Dubai, UAE – As global luxury faces headwinds in key markets like China, and as consumer behavior across the GCC shifts toward value-driven, digital-first experiences, a new retail-tech player is emerging in Dubai to meet that moment.

Hushday, the region’s first premium, invitation-only flash sales platform, has raised over AED 2 million (USD $550,000) in pre-seed funding from regional tech investors. Its ambition: to create a new channel for luxury and premium brands to grow in the Middle East — with full control, brand integrity, and next-level performance.

While inspired by European models like Veepee (valued at over €4 billion) and Gilt in the US, Hushday is not a copy-paste. It’s a GCC-first model, built locally for brands and consumers who expect more: exclusivity, experience, and execution.

“We’re not here to patch a post-COVID inventory issue,” says Jennifer Cohen Solal, CEO & Co-founder. “We’re here to open a new, scalable path for growth — for brands who want to reach a younger, price-sensitive, digital audience, without damaging their equity. The demand is here. The region is ready.”

A Private Sales Model Built for Today’s Reality

Unlike traditional outlets or mass-discount platforms, Hushday was designed as a strategic distribution layer, where brands can activate curated drops in a brand-safe, high-conversion environment — and tap into valuable new audiences in the process.

The platform has already signed dozens of brands — from regional players to global names — and offers full control over pricing, visibility, and inventory strategy. Brands receive real-time analytics, customer insights, and dedicated onboarding support.

“This isn’t just about clearing stock,” adds Jean Thillaye du Boullay, COO and former Carrefour executive. “It’s about reaching a new audience with purpose — and turning each campaign into both revenue and retention. From curation to delivery, we handle the full experience with precision and speed.”

A Curated Experience for Customers — With Access at the Core

Hushday operates on a referral-only model, granting invited members access to limited-time sales across fashion, beauty, accessories, electronics, home, and leisure. Each drop is personalized, mobile-first, and designed to create a sense of rarity and excitement.

With up to 50 flash sales per month, loyalty rewards, and AI-powered recommendations, the experience is built to convert — while reinforcing desirability.

‘’ For our users, it’s not about discounts. It’s about access,” says Riad Djabri, CTO and former engineering lead at Doctolib. “We use tech to make the experience smarter — more personal, more seamless, and more rewarding. Our goal is to turn every flash sale into something that feels tailored, not transactional.”

Hushday stands out not just for its unique format but for how seamlessly it aligns with the region’s pulse, needs, and ambitions. Entirely based in Dubai and backed by local tech investors, the platform is tailored for the Gulf, offering a deeply relevant and timely retail experience. At the core of its operations is a fully robotized third-party logistics (3PL) system, ensuring end-to-end efficiency and excellence across the region. With the GCC’s premium off-price market expected to hit $6 billion, Hushday is stepping in with a bold, digitally native, and brand-safe model that’s designed specifically for this market—not borrowed from outdated global playbooks. “We’re not replicating what worked in Europe 10 years ago,” says Jennifer Cohen Solal. “We’re building what the Middle East needs now — with its own codes, pace, and expectations. And we’re doing it at scale.” After launching in the UAE this month, the company is already eyeing rapid expansion into Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait, fully intent on tapping into the massive regional demand for smart, high-quality off-price retail.

MEET THE FOUNDERS

Hushday’s founding team combines deep experience in fashion, e-commerce, tech, and operations—with a track record of scaling high-growth businesses in Europe and the Middle East.

Jennifer Cohen Solal – CEO
With 15 years of experience in e-commerce, Jennifer has held leadership roles as Chief Marketing Officer for major fashion and tech brands, including some of Europe’s top private sales platforms. Before launching Hushday, she founded one of Paris’ most talked-about food startups—a digital-first brand that reimagined the world of French pâtisserie and made headlines for its bold, chef-led concept.

“We don’t believe in waste. We believe in reactivation. That’s the future of retail.”

Jean Thillaye du Boullay – COO
A retail and logistics expert, Jean spent a decade at Carrefour and Majid Al Futaim, managing over 1B AED in annual turnover and leading large-scale digital transformations. At HushDay, he’s driving the commercial & operational engine with a focus on excellence, cost control, and scale.

“Our role is to create a win-win channel: an off-price destination where brands can clear inventory without harming their image, while customers access coveted labels at exceptional value. It’s built on trust, desirability, and a seamless experience from click to delivery.”

Riad Djabri – CTO
Riad is a former engineering lead at Doctolib, one of France’s top unicorns. With a strong product and tech background, he is now driving Hushday’s vision to become the next-generation retail platform for the GCC.

“Our ambition is to build a tech platform that evolves with the brands we serve — integrating AI, circularity, and real-time insights to create a smarter, more sustainable way to sell luxury. But we’re equally focused on the customer experience: making every flash sale more relevant, more personal, and more seamless for the people who matter most.”

ABOUT HUSHDAY

Hushday is the first premium private sales platform built specifically for the Middle East.
Founded in Dubai in 2024, the company offers luxury and premium brands a secure, high-conversion channel to manage excess inventory — while maintaining full control over pricing, image, and positioning.

The platform is invitation-only, operating as a curated destination where members access exclusive flash sales across fashion, beauty, accessories, home, electronics, and leisure. With up to 50 sales per month, Hushday delivers a mobile-first, gamified experience tailored to GCC consumers.

The platform will officially launch in the first week of May 2025 in the UAE, with plans to expand to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait in 2026. Backed by regional tech investors and powered by a fully automated logistics partner, Hushday combines premium retail standards with operational scalability — making it a strategic new growth channel for brands in the region.

Launching the 2nd of May 2025 in the UAE, Hushday is available by invitation only.

🔗 Join the waitlist: [www.hushday.com]
📸 Instagram: [@hushday_me]
📧 Media Enquiries:

Sudhashree Dash

0553498382

press@hushday.com

sudha@memc.co

In a performance that blended emotion, elegance, and East-West harmony, Lebanese-French singer Amanda Maalouf on Wednesday gave a select UAE audience a stirring preview of the upcoming musical Once Upon A Time in Dubai, set to premiere in December 2025.

The exclusive showcase featured Maalouf performing “Habibi,” one of the show’s signature numbers, at an invite-only preview attended by media, partners, and cultural stakeholders. The song—a poignant blend of Arabic influences and Western theatrical arrangement—earned enthusiastic applause, offering a glimpse of what producers are calling “a new kind of musical for a new Dubai.”

“Dubai is more than a setting—it’s a character in this story,” said Stéphane Boukris, co-producer of the musical. “This project is about cultural unity, artistic innovation, and shining a spotlight on a new generation redefining identity in the Middle East. We’re proud to bring this bridge between France and the UAE to life.”

For Maalouf, whose performance marked the first public taste of the show, the moment was deeply personal. “Habibi is a song that speaks from the heart—it’s a journey through love, self-expression, and identity,” she told reporters after the performance. “Performing it here in Dubai, where East and West meet so beautifully, is a dream. This is just the beginning [of great things together].”

The team behind Once Upon A Time in Dubai says the musical is more than entertainment—it’s a cultural project designed to showcase Dubai as a city of stories, voices, and future-forward artistry.

The production is backed by Universal Music and features a cast and crew with international credentials, with more previews and announcements expected soon.

A collaboration between a visionary French team and Universal Music, the musical tells the story of a young generation rising in the heart of Dubai, navigating identity, ambition, and tradition in a rapidly changing world. With original compositions by renowned composer Nazim Khaled and set against the backdrop of the UAE’s global crossroads, the show promises to be a landmark moment for original musical theatre in the region. The story, told through original music and dance, will premiere later this year, with full production details expected to be announced over the coming months.

Gold prices in Dubai took a sharp dip on Wednesday morning, falling below the symbolic Dh400 mark per gram, offering some much-needed relief to buyers following a record-setting rally earlier this week.

The price for 24-carat gold opened at Dh399.50 per gram, a significant drop from Dh420 on Tuesday. The decline comes after weeks of price surges that had seen rates climb almost hourly.

Other gold variants also saw notable decreases:

• 22K gold is now priced at Dh370.00, down from Dh388.75
• 21K gold sits at Dh354.75, previously Dh372.75
• 18K gold dropped to Dh 304.00 from Dh319.50

Mixed Reactions from Consumers

The recent rollercoaster in gold prices has sparked a variety of responses across the city. While some residents rushed to sell old jewellery for cash at higher prices, others opted to buy new pieces in anticipation of further increases.

Local jewellers say shoppers are gravitating towards lighter jewellery designs and smaller investment pieces like gold coins. Some are even trading in older items to secure better value at current rates, according to a local report.

Global Factors at Play

On the international stage, spot gold fell by 0.7% to $3,357.11 per ounce, while US gold futures dropped 1.5% to $3,366.80.

The dip is largely attributed to a rebound in the US dollar index. Market sentiment shifted after US President Donald Trump backed away from earlier plans to dismiss Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, a move that reassured investors and strengthened the dollar.

Earlier price surges were driven by a weaker dollar, recession fears, and tense US-China trade relations. Now, with the dollar stabilising, gold prices are adjusting accordingly.

For real-time updates and historical data on gold prices in Dubai, visit GoldTrade.ae.