A Global Childhood That Shaped a Visionary
Ahmad Ali Swaid’s story begins in London, born to Lebanese and Sierra Leonean parents. His early years were spent moving between Beirut, Freetown, and Aleppo—a multicultural upbringing that deeply influenced his worldview. As a teenager, he collected fashion magazines, fascinated by their ability to tell stories beyond borders. This passion would later become his profession.
Climbing the Ranks in Fashion Media
Swaid’s career in fashion journalism began at Garage Magazine, where he honed his editorial skills. He later joined Dazed Media as Head of Content, overseeing content across several influential titles including Dazed, Dazed Beauty, AnOther Magazine, Nowness, and Dazed Studio. His strategic leadership positioned him as a key figure in shaping the narrative of contemporary fashion and youth culture.
Leading GQ Middle East into a New Era
In March 2022, Swaid was appointed Editor-in-Chief of GQ Middle East, becoming only the second person to hold the position since the magazine’s launch in 2018. Based in Dubai, his vision centered on amplifying voices from the Middle East and North Africa, bringing untold stories and regional talent to global attention.
Under his leadership, GQ Middle East featured groundbreaking covers from Mohammed El-Kurd, Iman Hammam, Karim Benzema, to Gazan journalist Motaz Azaiza as GQ’s Man of The Year 2023. Swaid also dedicated the entire June 2024 issue of GQ Middle East to Sudan, shining a light on the country’s crisis and its resilient people.
He frequently collaborated with contemporary artists from across the MENA region, including Mous Lamrabat, Mohammed Bourouissa, Dexter Navy, Mario Sorrenti, Gray Sorrenti, Ruba Abu-Nimah, and Liz Johnson Artur, creating a distinctive visual and editorial identity for the magazine.
Launching Dazed MENA: A Platform for Radical Creativity
In December 2024, Swaid took on a new challenge as Editor-in-Chief of Dazed Middle East and North Africa (Dazed MENA). The inaugural issue featured nine covers and showcased stories from across the global majority—including an Ethiopian skate collective, a young Syrian farmer in the Bekka Valley of Lebanon, girlhood in Afghanistan, and Gazan parkourists captured by photographer Ahmed Hussein Younes.
Swaid’s second issue of Dazed MENA, released in March 2025 and entitled New Archetypes, featured Kurdish rap duo Biji, Palestinian poet Mohammed El-Kurd, and supermodels Nora Attal, Malika ElMaslouhi, Paloma Elesser, and Alek Wek, alongside American designer Willy Chavarria, shot by French-Moroccan photographer Ilyes Griyeb. The issue also included collaborations with artists Mohammed Bourouissa, Pegah Farahmand, Abdulhamid Kircher, Bilal El-Kadhi, Myriam Boulous, and Akram Zaatari.
Swaid’s vision for Dazed MENA is clear: to redefine creativity in a region where imagination itself can be an act of resistance. For him, creativity is not only aesthetic—it is liberation.
Beyond Magazines: Philanthropy and Community Building
Following the devastating Beirut explosion in 2020, Swaid co-founded Creatives for Lebanon, a non-profit organization aimed at supporting and rebuilding Beirut’s creative community. The initiative united some of the country’s most prominent voices in publishing, fashion, and design to help the city recover and rebuild through art and culture.
A Lifestyle Rooted in Culture and Creativity
Swaid’s lifestyle reflects his commitment to culture, creativity, and representation. His Instagram (@ahmadaswaid) offers a behind-the-scenes look at his projects, insights into his editorial vision, and reflections on art, identity, and the world around him. He continues to be a powerful voice for the underrepresented, using media as a tool for transformation.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Ahmad Ali Swaid’s journey—from a magazine-collecting teenager to a pioneering figure in fashion journalism—serves as an inspiration for a new generation of creatives and storytellers. His commitment to cultural representation, community building, and radical creativity underscores the profound impact media can have when led with vision and purpose.
As he continues to lead Dazed MENA and shape narratives that reflect the diverse realities of the global majority, Swaid proves that media can not only document change—but drive it. Do follow him on Instagram.
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