The UAE has one of the most active female founder scenes in the region. Around a third of new SME licences in Dubai are now issued to women, and that energy is visible everywhere from beauty bars to bakeries to boardrooms. Here is a personal list of women owned and women led businesses across the country that are genuinely good at what they do.
Beauty, wellness and self care
- Huda Beauty, founded by Huda Kattan, is the global beauty empire that started in Dubai.
- The Giving Movement, co founded by Dominic Nowell-Barnes and led by a largely female team, makes ethical loungewear from Dubai.
- N Bar is the original nail and brow chain in the UAE, founded by Lina Hourani.
- Glow Bar by Dr Yara Bassyouni is the place to go for clinical aesthetics done conservatively.
- The Hundred Wellness Centre in Jumeirah, founded by Asma Hilal Lootah, is one of the first holistic wellness clinics in the city.
Food, bakeries and cafes
- Home Bakery, founded by Hind Al Mulla, is the most recognisable Emirati owned bakery brand.
- One Life Kitchen and Cafe in Dubai Design District is co founded by Colette Sol.
- Tania's Teahouse in Jumeirah is one of the original female founded cafes in Dubai.
- Bakery Counter in Jumeirah is owned by Sarah Tibbatts.
- Mitts and Trays by Sarah Lall is the home grown brunch favourite in Dubai.
Fashion, jewellery and design
- Bambah by Maha Abdul Rasheed is the home grown modest luxury label.
- Madiyah Al Sharqi is the Emirati designer princess label with a global stockist list.
- Bil Arabi by Nadine Kanso is the jewellery brand that put Arabic script into fine jewellery worldwide.
- Lana El Sahely for bespoke fine jewellery in DIFC.
Real estate and professional services
- Driven Properties has multiple senior female brokers leading the highest volume teams in the city.
- Allsopp and Allsopp has women in many of its top performing agent roles.
- Sherrygold is the female founded Dubai based interior fit out studio working on a lot of the new Palm villas.
- Eos Deluxe Residences is led by a female founder and focuses on serviced residences.
Restaurants and hospitality
- Pretty Tipsy in Sheraton Grand was created by a female bar team and consistently wins regional cocktail awards.
- 3Fils in Jumeirah Fishing Harbour has a strong female led front of house and is still one of the best restaurants in the country.
- Pots Pans and Boards is a female founded online food platform that grew into a real catering business.
Education and family
- Kids HQ, founded by Cherine Magrabi, is the home grown nursery group.
- Mirdif Private School has female leadership across its senior team.
This list is not exhaustive, and it should not be. The point is that there is no excuse for not having a women owned option in almost every category you spend money in. If you run one we should know about, tell us here and we will add it.