The Emirate’s first locally accredited College of Fashion and Design (CFD), located in the heart of the city, welcomed its first batch of students on 10th February 2017.

CFD announced the official launch by appointing Beirut-born fashion designer Walid Atallah as a member of CFD’s board of advisors. The award-winning Atallah is best known for his colorful runway creations generously sprayed with Swarovski crystals, precious stones, and diamonds.

Speaking about the official launch, Prof. Abhilasha Singh, President, and CEO of CFD says, “Today is a celebration of everyone’s hard work and commitment to launching CFD. The school’s state-of-the-art facilities will support a broad range of effective teaching practices and a lift in achievement for all students.”

She adds, “Also, we are thrilled to have Walid Atallah on board. He will play a leading role in creating new and innovative learning opportunities for the students that will help build UAE’s fashion industry, and boost the presence of local designers in the Middle East and across the globe.” Recently, CFD also appointed Her Excellency Sheikha Hend Faisal Al Qassemi as the Chairperson of the Advisory Board and Member of Board of Trustees.

With over 50 shows, held across the Middle East, Asia, Africa, USA, Canada and Europe, to his credit, Atallah holds numerous accomplishments including the Guinness Book Record for the World’s Most Expensive Wedding Dress worth US$ 1.25 million that he designed for a Princess from Saudi Arabia. He was also the first international and Arab designer to co-design Rolls Royce ‘Phantom Rayan’ carrying ‘Walid Atallah’ signature.

Among Walid’s elite clientele are not just the region’s wealthy and famous but also many Princesses and top celebrities such as Warda Al Jazairia, Majida el Roumi, May Hariri, Diana Haddad, Haifa Wehbi, Nawal el Zoghbi, Latifa and Sherine Abdel Wahab to name a few.