L'Oréal Paris redefines ‘Sit Al Bait' in empowering Middle East campaign
Rooted in cultural nuances of the region, the campaign builds on L'Oréal's long-standing commitment to women's empowerment — while challenging the language that continues to shape female identity in the region.
The campaign's out-of-home presence debuted in Beirut, with upcoming rollouts in Riyadh, Dubai, and across the region. Further activations are planned to continue building on the long-term vision behind Sit Al Bait. The hero film features actress Yasmine Sabri and actress Aseel Omran, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with women across the region.
As the narrative unfolds, we see them take to the streets, displaying the power of words that makes all the difference in the messaging – two missing Arabic letters 'al' that transform the meaning of the words 'sit bait' (housewife) into 'sit al bait' (woman of the house), rewriting the narrative, and restoring value to the unseen labor of millions of women.
Commenting on the campaign, Christian Bou Khalil, Marketing Director MENA, L'Oréal Paris, said, 'Sit Al Bait is more than a cultural phrase, it is a statement that speaks to the very core of our brand's values: empowering women to define themselves on their own terms.'
Christian Bou Khalil, added, 'We are proud to challenge narratives and elevate the evolving role of women in society as leaders, changemakers, and visionaries. It's a reminder that empowering women begins by recognizing the value they already hold—because they're worth it.'
In a region where cultural expectations have long cast women primarily in the role of caregiver or housewife, this L'Oréal campaign is a timely reminder that women can be, and already are, so much more: leaders, visionaries, entrepreneurs and changemakers. They can be whatever they decide to be.
A new study by L'Oréal Paris reveals that more than half (53 per cent) of men and women in the Middle East believe the term 'housewife/sit bait' does not entirely reflect the evolving role of women in 2025.
Additionally, a series of focus groups further revealed a stronger emotional response to the 'Sit Al Bait' phrasing, with participants describing it as a 'badge of honour' and 'a way to finally feel seen'.
'My late mother raised me to ignore any label or name calling that shrinks us. Arab women run their lives and their homes with power and precision. Yet we're often pushed into the background and told to take pride.' said Manar Munjed Abdulla, Associate Creative Director at FP7 McCann.
She added, 'With this campaign, I wanted to reclaim worth, and to help other women do the same. I knew the change would make some people proud and others uncomfortable. But it was necessary to break a cliché and rewrite our place in the world. Because no one else will do it for us.'
CREDITS
Client Marketing Director MENA Christian Bou Khalil SAPMENA CPD General Manager Adrien Koskas Global Brand President Delphine Viguier-Hovasse Deputy General Manager SAPMENA CPD Khalid Dugmag General ManagerSAPMENA Juliana Gómez H Senior Vice President Global Image & Content Olivier Monteil Deputy General Manager – Global Martin Crosnier International Marketing Director – South Asia Hub Chih-Ying Chang Hub Director – MENA Nadine Fouad International Project Manager – Emerging AME Hub Nay Sader General Manager Consumer Products Middle East Ahmed Wagih General Manager – GCC Elsa Kalaydijiane Brand Business Lead – GCC & Levant Sara Sakaya Brand Advocacy Manager Hiba El Assir Corporate Affairs & Engagement Director – Middle East Jihane Bachir Group PR & Advocacy Director, Corporate Affairs & Engagement Zeina Haddad Managing Director – Lebanon Emilie Wahab Head of Brands – Lebanon Christelle Khoury
Creatives Regional Chief Creative Officer: Federico Fanti FP7 McCann Dubai Global Chief Creative Officer: Julien Calot McCann Paris Executive Creative Director: Nayaab Rais FP7 McCann Dubai Global Executive Creative Director: Rob Brown McCann Paris Creative Director: Eric Groza FP7 McCann Dubai Head of Arabic: Manar Munjed FP7 McCann Dubai Art Director: Anton Stolpovskii FP7 McCann Dubai PR Manager Roksar Kamal FP7McCann MENAT Copywriter: Daniel Zaldumbide FP7 McCann Dubai Associate Creative Director: Rob Hall FP7 McCann Dubai Creative Operations Director Cynthia Sarkis FP7 McCann Dubai Senior Creative Ops Coordinator Christina Abouzeid FP7 McCann Dubai Creative Excellence Manager Sofia Serrano FP7 McCann Dubai Senior Finalizer Rahim FP7 McCann Dubai Senior Finalizer Ahmed Nadeem
Client Service Nima Askari General Manager FP7 McCann Dubai EVP Global Business Director Lisa Conway McCann Paris President / EVP Global Leader L'Oréal Charlotte Franceries McCann Paris Account Director: Dalia Hosny FP7 McCann Dubai Miral Saad FP7 McCann Dubai Account Manager: Freddy George FP7 McCann Dubai Account Executive Eman Sami FP7 McCann Dubai Account Director MCP Sabrina Rodreguiez McCann Paris International Account Manager: Shruti Namibar McCann Paris
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