Case studies · World Arabia · 2025

Three covers for World Arabia

Amir Agaev · Fashion & jewellery photographer and videographer in Dubai

World Arabia No. 11 cover with Sergey Avayan, photographed by Amir Agaev — World Arabia No. 11, November 2025: Sergey Avayan. Photography: Amir Agaev.

World Arabia is a Dubai magazine founded and edited by Lara Palmer. In 2025 Amir Agaev, a Dubai-based fashion and jewellery photographer and videographer, shot three of its covers across two issues: No. 10 in May and No. 11 in November.

No. 10: Johan Ernst Nilson

The May 2025 cover story is on the explorer Johan Ernst Nilson. Amir photographed him on 2 May 2025 at Matadora studio in SOL Bay, Dubai, and edited a short film from the same session. The film opens on a close portrait in cool blue light, with Nilson in a white coat. Its credit reads “@johanernst for @world_arabia by @amir_agaev · Editor @lara__palmer”. The issue went to print in May 2025.

No. 11: two covers for “Real Estate & House”

No. 11, November 2025, is a special issue, “Real Estate & House”, with two covers. Sergey Avayan, CEO of HOLM, is shot in a navy pinstripe double-breasted suit against a dark background. Faruh Kurbanov, founder of DIA Holding, sits in an armchair in a mustard jacket against light grey.

Both covers were shot on 5 October 2025, approved later that month and sent to print in early November.

How the covers work

A cover portrait has to hold the page on its own and still leave room for the masthead and the lines. The two No. 11 covers solve it in opposite ways: a dark suit on a dark ground, and a warm mustard jacket on light grey, so the two covers of one issue read as a pair without looking the same. For the Nilson session, the film opens on cool blue light instead.

The result

Lara Palmer's Instagram posts of 21 and 22 November 2025 present the two No. 11 covers with the credit “Photographer @amir_agaev”. Three covers in one year, for a business portrait and an explorer story rather than fashion, next to Amir's editorial work for L'Officiel Monaco and AD Middle East. The short film for No. 10 is the kind of add-on he offers brands too: see fashion video.

World Arabia No. 11 cover with Faruh Kurbanov, photographed by Amir Agaev — No. 11, second cover: Faruh Kurbanov.

Johan Ernst Nilson in the World Arabia No. 10 film by Amir Agaev — No. 10: Johan Ernst Nilson, from the cover film.

Credits

Publication: World Arabia, Dubai
Founder and editor: Lara Palmer
No. 10, May 2025: Cover story and short film: Johan Ernst Nilson
No. 11, November 2025: Two covers: Sergey Avayan (HOLM) and Faruh Kurbanov (DIA Holding)
Photography: Amir Agaev