A true businesswoman who manages everything from buying to planning.

CV: Sidiqa was just 22 years old when she opened Spontiphoria – a boutique, bakery, café and event space in one – in November 2013. She handles all aspects of the business, from checking inventory to liaising with customers, in addition to being the buyer, the event planner, the recipe planner, and (as she puts it), the daydreamer.

Where it began: My background is actually in international relations (Sidiqa has a degree in international relations from the American University of Sharjah and a master’s in conflict prevention and peace-building from Durham University in the UK), but I have been baking since I was 16 and it soon developed into a passion and a very necessary part of my day.

Ever since I was a child I’ve loved finding offbeat, quirky accessories and stationery, and so I channelled that energy into creating a boutique selling a small, curated range of one-of-a-kind products.”

Dreaming big: “In the business sphere I’d love to see my concept grow to eventually encompass other creative sectors. I’d also like to eventually become a professor and academic.”

What winning means to me: “It would definitely be a wonderful and surreal experience to win an award that I have been following for years as a young and bright-eyed teenager.

Photographed by: Farooq Salik  | Assisted by: Kristina Nabieva