It felt like an eternity rather than just a few minutes as haute couture fashion designer Elie Saab scrambled to make sure his 200 staff members, including his son, were safe when this month’s massive explosion shook Beirut.
Like many Lebanese on Aug.4 when chemicals at the port detoned, the 56-year-old felt the blast was on his doorstep.
‘I saw my son covered in blood, I could not believe it. I said okay, he is wounded, but it was okay, it was just cuts to his head and arms’, Saab said.
‘But it was 15 minutes that felt like two days long. It was not just because it is a father and son thing, it was because we all work together like one family under one roof’.
The explosion killed 178, injured 6,000 and damaged whole neighbourhoods.
Saab said his main office and headquarters were badly damaged. His home a few hundred meters from the port, was gutted.
The blast destroyed the shops and ateliers of at least two other designers, Zuhair Murad and Rabih Keyrouz, himself badly injured.
Saab is no stranger to devastation. He started his label in 1982, at the height of Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war.
The Aug.4 blast revived those memories.
‘It was the same smell, the same dust, the broken glass. Honestly, we did not want to relieve and it was not necessary’, he said.
‘This is a huge setback but have to be like Beirut – every time dusting itself off and returning to the way it was’, Saab said.
Saab’s team plan to go back to their offices from Aug.20 to meet a deadline for the September Paris Couture Show.
He also plans to rebuild his residence, with its high ceilings and arches, marble columns and Arabesque titles. For now, rubble and dust were everywhere.
‘We must go on … It does not become us as Lebanese to give up’, Saab said. ‘This is the doable part. But the biggest loss is the people you can’t bring back’.
AL ULA – – Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says major investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia will amount to six trillion dollars over the next ten years, including 3 trillion dollars in investments in new projects, within the framework of the opportunities provided by Vision 2030, reported Saudi Press Agency. Saudi Arabia’s Crown … Continue reading BREAKING NEWS | Investments In Saudi Arabia’s Economy Will Reach Six Trillion Dollars: Crown Prince→
RIYADH – – Saudi Arabia warned on Wednesday its citizens against travel without prior approval to 12 countries where the coronavirus pandemic is still not under control.The Interior Ministry said the countries were Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Turkey, Somalia, Armenia, Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela and Belarus.It added that the same permission applies to other countries … Continue reading TRAVEL | Saudi Arabia Warns Citizens Against Travel To 12 Countries Without Approval Over Virus Fears→
RIYADH – – Oman’s Sultan Haitham will be succeeded by his eldest son Dhi Yazan, according to a new basic law published on Tuesday that creates a new position of crown prince and established succession from ruler to the eldest son. Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al-Said has announced plans for the constitutional change on Monday, … Continue reading ROYALS | Oman Sultan’s Eldest Son Dhi Yazan To Succeed Him, Becoming First Crown Prince→
Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube said on Tuesday it has suspended Donald Trump’s channel as it violated policies for inciting violence after last week’s assault on the U.S. Capitol by the president’s supporters. Online platforms and social media companies are distancing themselves from, and taking action against, those that encouraged or engaged in the violence in Washington, … Continue reading SOCIAL MEDIA | YouTube Suspends Trump’s Channel After Violating Policy On Inciting Violence→
RIYADH – – Saudi Arabia welcomed on Monday the American admiration’s decision to designate the Iran – backed Houthi militias and their leaders as terrorist. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said the move is in line with the ‘demands of the legitimate Yemeni government to rein in the Houthis over their violations that have … Continue reading BREAKING NEWS | Saudi Arabia Welcomes Washington’s Designation Of Houthis As Terrorist→
MILAN – – Oman’s sultan announced on Monday a constitutional shakeup that includes the appointment of crown price for the first time and new rules on how parliament will work, state media said. A new basic law issued by Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq al – Said also emphasizes the role of the state in guaranteeing … Continue reading NEWS ALERT | Oman To Get Its First Crown Prince In Constitutional Overhaul→
AL ULA – – Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, received in AlUla on Sunday Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio. Talks focused on bilateral relations and the promising opportunities to develop them in all fields. They also tackled regional and international dedvelopments. The meeting was attended by Saudi … Continue reading BREAKING NEWS | Saudi Crown Prince Receives Italian FM in AlUla→
Saudi Arabia will lift travel restrictions and resume international flights starting on March 31 following the suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic, the official Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday. All land and sea ports will also reopen allowing for the entry and exit of all nationals and residents, according to a statement from the … Continue reading TRAVEL | Saudi Arabia To Resume International Travel, Lift Restrictions On March 31→
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz received on Friday the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine. Health Minister Dr.Tawfiq Al-Rabiah thanked King Salman for providing all the support to meeting the needs and interests of Saudi citizens and residents since the beginning of the outbreak. He added that King Salman received … Continue reading BREAKING NEWS | King Salman Receives The First Dose Of COVID-19 Vaccine→