Alina Ali grew up in Dubai and has spent the last ten years watching the UAE's fashion and lifestyle scene transform into one of the most dynamic in the world. As a writer, she was documenting UAE sneaker culture, high fashion, and luxury lifestyle before most outlets realised it was worth covering. She joined What's Hot in UAE as Fashion, Lifestyle & Sneaker Culture Writer after years of running her own fashion blog and building a following among Dubai's style community. Her network includes boutique owners, brand representatives, stylists and resellers across the UAE — which means her release guides, stockist lists, and fashion coverage are sourced from people with actual access, not copied from brand press kits. Alina covers everything from Nike and Jordan regional exclusives to high fashion, couture, luxury brands, beauty, and the UAE's homegrown streetwear labels making noise internationally. Lifestyle at What's Hot in UAE is her domain — and that means anything fashion, from the runway to the street. She is based in Dubai Marina and collects Air Maxes. Follow Alina's work on Muck Rack , Substack , Vocal , and Medium .
The Nike Air Max 90 Drift “Light Army/Volt” — style code FB2877-301, and the pair most people just call the “Volt” — dropped in Holiday 2024 as the Air Max 90’s answer to the TPU-heavy Air Max Plus Drift. It swaps the Air Max 90’s usual leather-and-mesh upper for moulded synthetic panels, giving the 34-year-old…
Read Story
Reebok’s “Boktober” x Universal Monsters collection launched on 11 October 2024 — five silhouettes reworked around Dracula, Frankenstein, the Bride of Frankenstein, the Creature From the Black Lagoon and the Wolfman. It followed the earlier 2024 Reebok Alien collaboration, and confirmed Reebok is treating Universal’s horror catalogue as a recurring seasonal well rather than a…
Read Story
Get ready, streetwear fans! Two of the biggest names in the game—Supreme and Jordan—are back together. Their latest collaboration is set to drop on October 3rd. Known for creating some of the most sought-after items in street culture, this Supreme x Jordan Collaboration is sure to make waves once again. The upcoming collection features a…
Read Story
This is what Bronny James’ rookie year alongside his father LeBron looked like at the start: October 2024, Lakers Media Day, the two of them in matching purple and gold with very different sneaker stories on their feet. Bronny went on to play 27 regular-season games for the Lakers in 2024-25 (2.3 points, 6.7 minutes…
Read Story
Ewing Athletics, founded by NBA legend Patrick Ewing in 1989, had a massive influence in the basketball and sneaker world during the 1990s. The brand was known for its high-top, chunky designs, specifically the Ewing 33 Hi. After dominating the market in the ’90s, the brand saw a decline in the 2000s as trends shifted…
Read Story
In September 2024, six Air Jordan Retros due for Q4 that year were quietly pulled from Jordan Brand’s release calendar — no official statement, just gaps where scheduled colourways used to be. At the time it read as a one-off correction. Looking back from 2026, it was the first visible sign of a much bigger…
Read Story
Part of our complete guide to Sneakers in the UAE. Related: check our Best Sneaker Stores in Dubai (8 Verified Shops) for where to buy authentic releases and avoid fakes. Nike has become synonymous with performance, innovation, and style. Its rise to prominence is a story of grit, determination, and relentless innovation in the sportswear…
Read Story
The Air Jordan 5 “Grape” is making its highly anticipated comeback in 2025. Once again, it will take centre stage in the sneaker world. Originally released in 1990, this colorway quickly became one of the most iconic in the Air Jordan lineup. This is thanks to its bold design and unusual colour palette. Fans of…
Read Story
The world of watches and motorsport enthusiasts is buzzing with excitement. This is because Steve McQueen’s Heuer Monaco, worn during the 1971 racing film Le Mans, is set to go under the hammer for the first time. Considered one of the most iconic watches in both cinema and horological history, this timepiece is expected to…
Read Story
Before sneaker collabs and hype drops, one shoe made tennis look rebellious: the Nike Air Tech Challenge II, worn by a young Andre Agassi as he tore up the buttoned-up tennis establishment. Its return in the original “Hot Lava” colourway is a genuine heritage moment. Here is why it matters and where to get it…
Read Story
Few fashion houses have swung between quiet couture genius and internet-breaking hype quite like Balenciaga. From a Spanish tailor once called “the master of us all” to viral AED-thousands hoodies and mud-caked trainers, it is a brand that keeps reinventing what luxury looks like. Here is the complete history of Balenciaga — and where to…
Read Story
The highly coveted and iconic Rolex ‘Rainbow’ Daytona chronograph, a rare timepiece from the 1990s, is set to hit the auction block this November. It is making headlines due to this event. The watch, known for its lively, multicolored sapphire bezel, is expected to draw significant attention from collectors and enthusiasts alike. The Rolex ‘Rainbow’…
Read Story