Emirati Businesswoman Haleema Humaid Al Owais Welcomes Us Into Her Home
One of the UAE’s most prominent Emirati entrepreneurs, Haleema Humaid Al Owais, opens the door to her eclectic, art-filled home where inanimate objects come to life
Haleema Humaid Al Owais wears many hats. The 37-year-old CEO of Sultan bin Ali Al Owais Real Estate has, in the past, managed many daunting tasks, both in business and in her personal life.
From starting her own community-focused café in Dubai, to climbing some of the highest mountain peaks, the mother of two has dealt with her fair share of challenges.
In early 2007, after the sudden passing of her father, Haleema stepped in to help manage the family business. “My elder brother was pursuing his higher studies so I stepped in to manage the real estate section – which was then just in its infancy stage – as the idea of property development appealed to me,” shares Haleema.
She went on to manage a successful business, while also opening and running the Community Café, her first food venture, with limited experience.
Her father, however, would also leave behind one other project for her to carry out. “This home was a gift from my father when I got pregnant with my eldest daughter,” she says.
The marbles, tiles, distinctive feature walls, art and photography in the space note inspiration from Pinterest, Airbnbs and boutique hotels that Haleema visited across the globe. Experimenting with natural light, a variety of colours and textures, every corner is uniquely treated for a distinctive feel
“He told me to go and build a house. At 21 years old, I had no idea what building a home even entailed.” Now, after 14 years, and with the help of one of her closest friends, Haleema has transformed her home into an art-filled haven of modern design.
“I did an amateur job at first,” she admits. “It wasn’t until my friend explained how to be ‘home proud’ that we together decided to do a complete renovation about three years ago. We broke down walls and tore up floors. We started out very small, renovating one room at a time.”
A beautiful painting by Alia Al Awadhi hangs in the all-pink powder room
The secret, she adds, is to include plenty of natural light and to know what colours and textures you prefer. For her home, she used a neutral canvas featuring shades of grey.
The inspiration for the design came predominantly from Pinterest, as well as from Airbnbs and boutique hotels that she would frequent on her travels.
An intimate reading corner in the downstairs living room
“There was one boutique hotel in France, in particular, called St. James Paris Relais & Châteaux, from where I first got the idea of having a glass room,” she says.
The inspiration for the Majlis, another prominent feature of her home, came while on a trip to India.
The living room mixes warm tones, mood lighting and rich textures. Art and sculptures by renowned artists combine for a relaxed and inviting ambience
Art is pronounced in Haleema’s home design, with several works sourced from auctions and galleries, particularly Dubai-based Takween Gallery.
“I started collecting during the pandemic when buying online became popular, which was easy for me as I don’t like to commute,” she admits.
Sculptures and artistic elements reveal a mix of influences in Haleema’s palatial residence. Featured here is a painting by Fatma Lootah, which hangs in the downstairs living area
A fan of regional artists, Haleema’s home is filled with pieces by the likes of visual artist Nabil Ali and Iraqi artist Wadhah Mahdi, as well as two paintings from celebrated Saudi Arabian artist Tagreed Albagshi.
Her home also features a piece by Baghdad-raised artist Sattar Darwish, which, like many works and objects around her home, was a gift from a friend.
The walk-in closet upstairs is regally-styled with mirrors, ample shelving space, velvet carpeting and a statement crystal chandelier
“I always loved art, but I didn’t know how to curate it,” she explains.
“It wasn’t until six years ago when a friend gifted me a piece by Hunt Slonem that I decided to start building my own collection.”
Haleema’s eclectic villa features art from several sources including Dubai-based Takween Gallery, visual artist Nabil Ali, Iraqi artist Wadah Mahdi and Saudi Arabian artist Tagreed Albagshi
If Haleema could give homeowners just one piece of advice: “Your home is your biggest investment. The more you invest in making your house into a home, the more your life will be enriched – whether it is a quaint studio apartment or a grand mansion.”
From the Spring 2021 issue of Harper’s Bazaar Interiors