ELIE SAAB Group's Elie Saab Jr. On What It Means To Lead With Legacy In Mind
"My father has always taught me that excellence is not achieved through speed, but through depth—the ability to stay true to what you believe, while continuously evolving."
As one of the leading haute couture lifestyle brands in the world today, ELIE SAAB has come a long way since its eponymous founder, Elie Saab, launched it as a fashion label in Lebanon in 1982. And according to Saab’s son, Elie Saab Jr., who is the Vice Chairman and CEO of the ELIE SAAB Group, that progression has always been deliberate.
“The evolution of ELIE SAAB into a lifestyle brand has been a very natural process,” Saab Jr. tells Inc. Arabia. “Our goal has never been to simply extend fashion into other categories, but to translate the brand’s DNA—its sense of elegance, proportion, and emotion— into new forms of expression.”
It is this ethos that comes through in STELLAR by ELIE SAAB, the brand’s collaboration with UAE-based real estate company Emirates Developments on what will be the first branded residential project to debut on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. For Saab Jr., the project speaks to ELIE SAAB’s aim “to create experiences that go beyond design, bringing beauty and harmony into the way people live.”
“Each project or collection we create must feel authentic, deeply rooted in our values, and executed with the same pursuit of excellence that defines our couture,” Saab Jr. explains. “Whether it’s a residence, a piece of furniture, or an architectural collaboration like STELLAR, the intention is always the same: to offer something meaningful, timeless, and true to the spirit of ELIE SAAB.”
It is an approach that also informs how Saab Jr. thinks about the road ahead for ELIE SAAB. “Legacy, to me, is built through consistency of values and courage of vision,” Saab Jr. shares. “My father has always taught me that excellence is not achieved through speed, but through depth—the ability to stay true to what you believe, while continuously evolving. This balance between tradition and innovation defines how we approach growth. Every new chapter for ELIE SAAB must reflect the brand’s DNA, its sense of craftsmanship, beauty, and timelessness, while speaking to the next generation in a relevant and meaningful way.”
An endeavor like STELLAR is also indicative of how the Middle East at large is shaping its own expression of luxury—one that, from Saab Jr.’s perspective, is deeply rooted in culture, creativity, and confidence. “Projects like STELLAR by ELIE SAAB are not just about aesthetics; they reflect a cultural shift,” Saab Jr. points out. “The region is no longer a passive consumer of luxury, but an active creator of it, contributing its own perspective to the global dialogue of design. Through STELLAR by ELIE SAAB, we’re proud to express this evolution, showing how the Middle East continues to inspire a new definition of contemporary luxury."
Pictured in the lead image is Elie Saab Jr. Image courtesy ELIE SAAB Group.
This article first appeared in the December 2025-January 2026 issue of Inc. Arabia. To read the full issue online, click here.
