Taleen Marie Shares Her ‘RHODubai’ Spotlight With Her Successful Parents
The ‘Dubai’ newbie also has a sister who looks and sounds just like her!
Jun. 18 2024, Updated 7:05 p.m. ET
In 2022, The Real Housewives of Dubai let it be known that they were different from the Real Housewives shows that came before them. Unlike the other shows, most Dubai ladies (sans Sara Al Madani) aren’t Dubai natives but are building businesses, families, and full lives in the city of gold.
Fans met Taleen Marie during RHODubai Season 2. Taleen is a close friend of Caroline Brooks and wants to make her mark in her new Dubai friend group.
After hosting a party at her house and attempting to hook Sara up with a potential man, the singer-songwriter is well on her way.
Of course, everybody knows that to be a memorable housewife, you need more than just incredible hosting skills. You also need a supportive circle of preexisting friends and family.
While viewers already knew Taleen had Brooks by her side as a friend, some are more fascinated with her family, which includes her parents.
Here’s what Taleen has said about her parents and her family.
Who are ‘The Real Housewives of Dubai’ star Taleen Marie’s parents?
In Season 2, Episode 1, Taleen mentioned she left her music career in Los Angeles, Calif., behind to live with her husband, Rafael “Raffi” Khanoyan, in Dubai.
Taleen moved to support Raffi as the CEO after he moved to Dubai after college. He eventually launched the Al Ryum Group, a construction company in Dubai.
In Season 2, Episode 2, “Friendship on the Rocks,” Taleen shared that she wasn’t the only one in her family to jet set to another country for her husband’s dream. In the episode, her parents, Sylva and Haig Kalbian.
As they arrived at the event, Taleen greeted them with a hug and kiss. She then begged Sylva, a photographer, to “relax and have a drink” instead of offering to help while her dad admired Taleen’s party food spread.
Later, in a confessional, she shared that her parents are originally from Jordan, and her father moved to the U.S. at 13 and eventually became a successful lawyer. Taleen also said her father owns several law firms — one in Washington D.C. and in Abu Dhabi.
When she became pregnant with her daughters, Gabrielle Marie and Sienna Dean, Taleen shared that her parents decided to stay in their Dubai home to be closer to her and the kids. OK, mostly the kids!
“When I had my children, they were like, ‘We gotta come here a lot more,’” she recalled. “They didn’t care about me; I think they care more about the grandkids.”
Taleen Marie’s sister, Laurie, is the ‘RHODubai’ star’s doppelganger.
As viewers watched on RHODubai, Taleen is family-oriented. At her party, she shared with her parents that she wanted “everyone” in her Dubai group to meet her family. Some of the party’s attendees could also meet Taleen’s sister, Laurie.
When Chanel Ayan, Caroline Stanbury, Sara, and Caroline Brooks arrived at Taleen’s get-together, several ladies mentioned how much Taleen and her sister look alike. The Tal Fitness coach confirmed at the party that she and Laurie “sound the exact same.”
From Lo’s Instagram, we've gathered that she also lives in Dubai with Taleen. Her posts include fun times out in Dubai and photos from her events with Taleen and her nieces.
It’s refreshing to see a tight-knit, devoted family like Taleen’s. Here’s hoping the newbie won’t have to get her lawyer dad involved in any of the Dubai cast’s antics!
The Real Housewives of Dubai airs new episodes on Bravo on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. EST.