Growing interest in modeling careers drives firm’s expansion plans JEDDAH: A new Saudi modeling agency is aiming to become the sector’s No. 1 company for the region. Located in Jeddah, Fame Faces was created to cater for a growing interest among people in the Middle East in pursuing modeling as a career and provides professional sessions for fashion, sport, magazines, and brands. Saudi entrepreneur Moayyad Tayeb founded the agency along with his Egyptian business partner, Mohammed Hadid, who had always dreamed of establishing a professional agency operating to international standards. Hadid, a Fame Faces director and also a model, told Arab News: “Models are the main part of the advertising, beauty, and fashion industry. Saudi Arabia is taking big steps into globalism, so why not make the Kingdom the first Arab country that runs a fashion industry similar to Europe? “There are a lot of foreign sites that portray Saudi models wearing our traditional uniform, but they look ridiculous. I’m proud of being an Arabian model. We will raise the right Arabian identity and show the world how good, decent, and beautiful we are,” he said. HIGHLIGHTS • Saudi entrepreneur Moayyad Tayeb founded Fame Faces along with his Egyptian business partner, Mohammed Hadid. • Fame Faces expects to start opening offices throughout the Kingdom soon. The agency is also recruiting hijabi models. • The Saudi Vision 2030 plan encourages the creation and promotion of new business opportunities in the country. The agency is also recruiting hijabi models. Hadid was first introduced to the fashion industry after starting work in a clothing retail shop and creating styles for customers and mannequins. He was later encouraged to take up modeling as a career and joined a catwalk academy in Egypt where he came second among 23 models. And he pointed out that protecting the rights of models signing up with the agency would always be a top priority. “The agency will respect their time by making it clear to the client that they are hired per hour and not a second more.” Fame Faces expects to start opening offices throughout the Kingdom soon. “We’re planning to be the No. 1 modeling agency starting with the Gulf to the Middle East,” Hadid added. The Saudi Vision 2030 reform plan encourages the creation and promotion of new business opportunities in the country, including professional modeling.