Introducing the Visionary Emirati Women Behind The Region’s Chicest Jewellery and Fashion Brands

These female designers are shaping the future of fashion with imagination, innovation, and purpose

Behind every exquisite piece lies a story of passion, creativity, and craftsmanship. In the Middle East, a remarkable group of women are redefining the industry, blending tradition with modern elegance to create brands that resonate with luxury and empowerment. From redefining classic aesthetics to championing women’s entrepreneurship, these visionary designers are making their mark in the fashion world by telling a story and celebrating individuality.

Meet the women behind some of the region’s most coveted luxury fashion and jewellery brands.

Aisha Bin Hendi

Born from a desire to create jewellery that celebrates the individual who wears it, TOi Fine Jewellery is craving its own niche in the world of Emirati fine jewellery and craftsmanship. From making waves as the first Emirati brand to be showcased at Cannes, to dressing iconic Bollywood actress, Rekha, on the cover of a globally-renowned magazine, Toi Fine Jewellery is redefining the market for fine jewellery in the Emirates, and at the heart of it is Founder, Aisha Bin Hendi, whose drive and vision has shaped the brand’s distinctive language over the years. She aims to create designs that feel intimate and authentic, whilst also telling a story through the pieces.

Noora Shawqi

Once in a while, a designer emerges with a concept that is effortlessly beautiful yet undeniably striking. Noora Shawqi’s journey into the world of fine jewellery began with a deep passion for the craft. She first gained recognition on social media, sharing pieces she admired from global brands, before deciding to create her own line. To refine her expertise, she became a certified diamond graduate from the Gemmological Institute of America. With her global travels as her main source of inspiration, the Emirati designer crafts jewellery collections that channel the beauty of the countries she has explored, from Japan and Morocco to the Maldives.

Maryam & Fatma Sahem

Inspired by the Arabic word for ‘fantasy,’ Khayal Fine Jewellery aims to bring a hint of magic into every woman’s lives. Founded by two sisters, Maryam and Fatma Sahem, who shared a passion for fine jewellery and creative design, the brand continues to change and shape the design space by combining their love for fantastical designs with high fashion jewellery pieces. The brand crafts pieces with the utmost care and quality, always taking into account customer satisfaction above all else. Their vision? To turn jewellery into wearable dreams.

Fatma Al Bannai

From a very young age, Fatma Al Bannai, showed signs of a creative mind, and pursued writing, using her literary abilities to transport readers into a realm of her making, but over the years, her creative passions started taking a shift, and her love for jewellery started shinning through, which led to her creating Baguette Design. The brand’s name was inspired by the bold and enduring cut of the baguette diamond, which is Fatma’s favourite, and it strives to create pieces which are unique and stands apart from other luxury designers.

Rafia Helal Bin Drai

A pioneer in luxury abaya design, Mauzan has shaped the region’s fashion landscape since 1990. Founded by Rafia Helal Bin Drai, the brand is a love letter to both fashion and heritage, elevating the timeless abaya into a canvas of couture artistry. With collections such as the newly unveiled Chapter 36, Mauzan continues to embody elegance, identity, and empowerment for women across the Emirates and beyond.

Fatma Alhashimi

The Emirati visionary behind Dubai-based label, HASHMI, Fatma Alhashmi is creating couture with a modern twist inspired by her Emirati roots. Her clean, minimalist, and timeless designs are crafted with elegant tailoring, giving her pieces have a sophisticated touch, unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. Understated, yet unforgettable, HASHMI takes quiet luxury to a whole other level.

SALFA

SALFA is the epitome of modern Emirati outerwear. With an emphasis on high-quality fabrics, timeless silhouettes, and conscious practices, the brand crafts pieces that are both practical and powerful. SALFA speaks to women who want to embody extraordinary style with effortless grace, transcending the borders of traditional fashion.

Fatma Al Otaiba

Raw and undeniably bold, Fatma Al Otaiba is changing the game in the world of fashionable leather bags with her brand, Odeem, who strive to combine luxury designs with sustainable fashion. Its an ode to the region’s heritage and craftsmanship, with the brand’s focus on rich texture, architectural designs, and sustainable materials, Fatma Al Otaiba is creating a brand that’s for the women who know that real fashion is in the details.

Bashayer Almahmoud

Bashayed Almahmoud is redefining personalised styling and curated fashion with her brand, My Fancy Closet. Founded in 2013 with the vision of creating bespoke, fashion-forward pieces that cater to her clients needs, My Fancy Closet has seen grown into a brand that balances glamorousness with wearability, offering its customers an outfit for every occasion.

Fatma Rashid

Fatma Rashid is pioneering maternity and postpartum fashion with her brand, The Maternity Project, which aims to curate timeless pieces that are made to last and grow with its customers. The brand proves comfort and elegance can co-exist, giving women the confidence to exist in their bodies – both before and after pregnancy.

Scentz by Mauzan

In 2000, Rafia Helal Bin Drai extended her creative vision into the world of perfumery with Scentz by Mauzan. Rooted in the belief that fragrance has the power to evoke memory and emotion, her Colonia collection illustrates a mastery of scent as storytelling. Just as Mauzan revolutionised abaya design, Scentz redefines the olfactory identity of Emirati luxury.

Fatima Ali Alhosani

Romance meets artistry at Leilani Jewellery, founded by creative visionary Fatima Ali Alhosani, the brand captures delicate beauty through imaginative settings and intricate detailing. Each piece feels like a keepsake that can be passed down across generations. Her romantic design and intricate artistry has elevated her pieces to a new level of elegan

Katia Samra

With a passion for jewellery from a young age, Katia Samra, the artistic director at Samra Jewellery, has redefined the brand’s identity with her distinctive touch. Her unique designs and compelling storytelling elevate the brand to new heights. After pursuing a degree in marketing, along with specialized training in diamond grading from HRD and jewellery design from GIA, Katia joined Samra to bring her vision to life. A strong advocate for women’s empowerment, she created the Dream Big with Samra initiative, providing a platform for emerging artisans and businesswomen to showcase their talents through jewellery.

Sana Al Maktoum Fine Jewellery

Sana Al Maktoum Fine Jewellery was founded in 2020 by HH Sheikha Sana Al Maktoum, who wanted to continue her grandmother’s legacy in promoting “entrepreneurship, inner strength and female empowerment.” Her Highness was inspired by the elder Sana, who was a keen jewellery collector and founded her own business in the 1960s. Spurred on by her grandmother’s trailblazing, Her Highness obtained a diploma in jewellery design and diamond grading from the Gemological Institute of America and International Gemological Institute, and began to build a brand with a clear vision – to embolden women through ethereal, feminine, and modern jewels. 

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