News

Private Photoshoots, Powered By AI And Built For Arab Women

self.space offers a fully private, tech-led studio experience designed for women in the GCC who value modesty, control, and beautifully natural results.

Published

1 year ago

July 21, 2025

Nour Nasir

private photoshoots powered by ai and built for arab women

In a region where modesty and privacy aren’t just preferences but lived and religious principles, traditional photography studios can feel alien, especially for women. The lights, the lens, the presence of strangers — it all creates tension. self.space, a new concept launching in Dubai this September, wants to change that.

The idea is simple but radical: step into a sealed, boutique-like room, alone. There’s no photographer, no audience — just you, a smart mirror, and cinema or studio-grade hardware. What happens next is entirely in your hands.

First piloted at the 2024 Arab Media Summit, the concept struck an immediate chord. Emirati women queued for hours to try it. Some emerged in tears, telling the team it was the first time they had loved a photo of themselves — not because the camera made them look different, but because for once, they felt in control.

“We discovered that people reject their photos mainly because tension never leaves their faces — not because they or the photographers lack talent or beauty,” say co-founders Mitia Muravev (CEO) and Peter Bondarenko (CPO). “That unease is sharper in the Arab world, where privacy and modesty are woven into daily life”.

Mitia steers the brand’s vision and partnerships, while Peter engineers the technology stack — from embedded cameras and soft LED rigs to edge AI and encryption. The result? A user-led shoot experience that’s as secure as it is elegant.

Also Read: Twitch Launches Arabic Right-To-Left Interface For Web & Mobile

Inside the studio, images are captured with a tap. An onboard neural model enhances color and smooths skin in real-time — editorial polish, minus the fakery. Each shot is encrypted and uploaded to a private gallery, accessible only via a one-time code sent to the user’s phone.

The space itself is intentionally calming: part spa, part tech capsule. “We don’t sell photos,” the team insists. “We sell a moment of radical self-ownership. The beauty was already there — our tech just lets you relax enough to see it”.

With over 4,000 users and zero data privacy incidents during early activations, self.space is betting big on the region. The flagship studio opens in Al Quoz this September — and the team has their sights set on turning privacy-first photography into the new norm across the GCC.

News

Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments

Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.

Published

4 days ago

August 1, 2026

Nour Nasir

syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.

Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.

Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

my syria super app launch event

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.

Also Read: This UAE Platform Wants To Replace Fashion Photo Shoots With AI

The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.

For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.