Some of the most iconic Emirati women we know discuss who their own icons are in life.
Alia Al Neyadi
The first professional Emirati Ballerina
@aliaalneyadii
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To you, who are some iconic Emirati women?
Personally, I have met so many incredible women who might not be on everyone’s radar but achieve incredible things. It is of course worth acknowledging all the successful Emirati women who have made headlines whether it is in politics, art, medicine, technology, management, sport, fashion, space and more. It would be unfair to just name a few, to me, what makes our nation special is that our leadership encourages all women to shine in their own way and choose their own path because our success is the success of a nation.
This is ‘The Icon Issue’ – what or who do you believe to be iconic?
An icon to me is someone who still manages to influence even when they are no longer with us. I know this is a celebration of Emirati women, but to me, if Sheikh Zayed didn’t encourage our strong women to be a part of the societies progress, we wouldn’t be where we are today. So while everybody takes the time to appreciate a strong woman, I take this time to give tribute to the man who valued and recognized the strength of a woman in a society, a man who believed that there is nothing a woman cannot achieve if she puts her mind to it, so thank you, and may we continue to make you proud for generations to come.
Sheikha Al Mheiri
Founder of MAD (Making A Difference) Hospitality
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To you, who are some iconic Emirati women?
Two iconic Emirati women to me are Muna Al Gurg and Najla Al-Midfa, the CEO of Sheraa.
This is ‘The Icon Issue’ – what or who do you believe to be iconic?
An educated and unique woman who inspired and carves a new way or discipline.
Sara Al Tamimi
Fashion Designer & Founder of Sara Tamimi
@saratamimiofficial
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To you, who are some iconic Emirati women?
There are countless iconic Emirati women, the list keeps growing every year. If I were to choose one, it would be my sister Noor Al Tamimi, who I aspire to be like and have good reason to look up to.
To me, Noor exemplifies the ideal Emirati woman with her effortless way of remaining at the peak of her career, while being an idol for three sisters and five daughters. I say the word ‘effortlessly’ because she does it all with a natural passion and strong will, virtues that all iconic Emirati women share.
She also owns up to playing a role in society. She is a board member of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce as well as the founder of a successful business, Bedashing Beauty Lounge, a hub that spread across the UAE and expanded globally precisely for its’ brand personality of empowering women inside and out. Some people call her success luck or even pure hard work. But it takes the combination of kindness, humility, patience and the right set of values held close to her heart that makes her an icon to me.
This is ‘The Icon Issue’ – what or who do you believe to be iconic?
Grace Kelly is iconic. She defined a timeless elegance in what would be considered today a classic style, as one of the prominent contemporary tones of fashion in the mid-1950s. Her makeup. The dresses she wore. The button-down shirts. The handbags. She made simple seem so much more because she picked the right things to wear for the right occasions. And after all, Grace Kelly was the one to design the Hermès Kelly – not just one of the most sought-after top handle bags, but a fashion investment in its own right. Anyone carrying a Kelly is making a statement. If that isn’t iconic, I don’t know what else would be.
Nadia Zaal
Founder of Zaya
@nadiazaal
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To you, who are some iconic Emirati women?
To me, two iconic Emirati women are Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi and Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimi.
This is ‘The Icon Issue’ – what or who do you believe to be iconic?
Hedy Lamarr. She was known for her beauty, but she was also extremely intelligent. She co-invented the communication system that was a precursor to WiFi and Bluetooth. So, she is still impacting the world today.
Asma Hilal Lootah
Founder of the Hundred Wellness Centre
@asmalootah @thehundredwellness
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To you, who are some iconic Emirati women?
For me, my mother is the embodiment of an icon and without doubt a symbol of fortitude, resilience and inspiration. She has raised me with unconditional love and gave me and my siblings the gift of ambition and empathy and instilled determination into us from her own experiences in life, and constantly teaches us to never curb our aspirations or compromise on our dreams and potential.
I am privileged to be surrounded by incredibly strong and inspirational women in my family, that inspire me every day with their fierce work ethic, prowess and spirited devotion; including my sister who dedicated her career to raising strong and independent children and my niece who is now a surgeon. Also, my aunt, who a generation ago single-handedly raised her children, whilst following her ambition of setting up her own successful business.
Outside of my family, I truly believe that we owe a great debt to our foremothers and their example of Iconicity. The legacy of women that came before us, laid the foundations from such humble beginnings and without their strength and resilience, in far more constricting circumstances, none of us would have the privilege we enjoy today. My gratitude and recognition must go to my heritage first.
This is ‘The Icon Issue’ – what or who do you believe to be iconic?
I tend to veer away from the understanding that an Icon is a figure that needs to be venerated by the masses. To be iconic, I think you have to build trust from those around you over time through respect and acts of kindness, it is also more about how you present yourself to others, rather than how you perceive yourself to be. Those who I believe to embody iconicity are humble, empathetic and value compassion and kindness over status.
Dr. Eng Suaad Al Shamsi
The UAE’s first female aircraft engineer
@suaadalshamsi
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To you, who are some iconic Emirati women?
To me, all Emirati women are iconic somehow either in their field, in their life, in everything they are doing. She is a leader, a wife, a mother, a technical expert or a daughter. For me, everyone is iconic.
This is ‘The Icon Issue’ – what or who do you believe to be iconic?
An iconic person is a passionate person with big dreams. It is those who in themselves and who build on society with the right principles of passion, love, faith and encouragement to others.
Zeinab Alhashemi
Dubai-based conceptual artist
@zalhashemi
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To you, who are some iconic Emirati women?
Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Alnahyan, Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi and Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimi.
This is ‘The Icon Issue’ – what or who do you believe to be iconic?
What I believe to be iconic is when one is influential recognizable and revered. Someone who makes a difference in doing what they do for the better.
September’s – ‘The Icon Issue’ – Download Now
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