The women in the audience may be enveloped in black but their eyes are on mini-dresses, hotpants and glittering gowns shown by Valentino, Kenzo and other fashion houses on the catwalk in Dubai this week.

"The turnover of the company is growing in double-digit figures, but here we are growing more than 30 per cent year on year, which is big for us," said Emilio Cabonera Giani, from Valentino, before Valentino's Spring-Summer 2007 collection show in Dubai.

Kenzo, Japanese fashion house also showed its Spring-Summer 2007 collection this week and the latest creations from France's Christian Lacroix will also hit the runway.

Catwalk shows are very good for designers that are looking for rich customers, especially in Dubai.

"Fashion in Dubai is very important to us and also for its development in the Middle East," said Simona Clemenza, Kenzo's Middle East manager. "We already have boutiques in Dubai."

"As Easterners, we don't agree with cuts that are too short, expose our chests and our backs. We are excited to see the latest fashion creations though actually wearing them is a different story," said Hoda, a Lebanese fashion designer.