With 2025 marking the 10th anniversary of Emirati Women’s Day, the nation’s thoughts turn naturally to the impressive strides women have made – and continue to make – across the UAE.
Contribution, service, self-improvement, and community involvement remain vital components and goals, and moving forward is something for which the women we photographed for the Villa 88 and Bvlgari photoshoot have a deep appreciation.
Conversations around the future also lend themselves to the past, as women look back to see how far they have come, and to pay homage to the women who forged the pathways and blazed the trails.
The unwavering support of the nation’s visionary leadership laid the groundwork for the success enjoyed by Dr Afra Atiq, Rowdha Ahmad Alsayegh, Sara Al Khayyal, and Amina Taher – and their own talent, ingenuity, intelligence, curiosity, and creativity continue to carry them onward…
Dr Afra Atiq tells a story about how her relationship with language goes back to when she was young, perhaps just old enough to talk.
“One of my earliest memories is of the big blue Webster’s Dictionary on the bottom of our bookshelf,” she says. “Little Afra pulls the book down – I don’t know how – and I remember sitting on the floor flipping through the pages, being both fascinated and enthralled. It makes sense that I would grow up to be a poet and a scholar.”
Her destiny already in motion, it’s unsurprising that the little girl who found words so fascinating grew up to be a woman whose “purpose has always been to inspire, to seek knowledge and to pass that knowledge on.” The publication of her first book, Of Palm Tress And Skies, in September last year, showcased an anthology of deeply personal poems centred around legacy, family and heritage.
As a culmination of her life experiences so far, and in homage to the stories and memories that shaped her, it was fitting that a poem she wrote following conversations with her father about his life, called Sheryan Al Hayat “sits at the heart of my book.”
“A lot of potential starts with realisation,” she says. “Realising and understanding the weight of your voice and your capabilities is the key to becoming the best version of yourself, and becoming the person you have envisioned yourself being.”
Writing and reciting poetry in four languages – Arabic, English, French and, more recently, the coding language Python – allows Dr Afra to express herself in myriad ways. These talents, when combined with her love of learning and challenging herself, are what have led her to create, for the first time, an immersive art installation for Dubai’s Sikka Art Fair last year.
For this year’s edition, Dr Afra turned her attention to a conundrum. “I was thinking about whether a poem can exist without words,” she says of her inspiration. “The academic in me and the poet in me both said ‘no’, while another part of me said ‘let’s find out’.”
The result was Qaseeda Bela Kalimat (A Poem Without Words), which explored the rhythmic essence of Arabic poetry using stepper motors that rotated acrylic tubes filled with beads. The rotation was programmed to create the rhythm of Al Bahar Al Baseet, a classical Arabic poetry metre, to create an inclusive poetry experience.
“That was my big experiment with words,” she notes. “For me, it was the beginning of what I think will be a growing body of work.”
With cultural preservation being a cornerstone of her work, Dr Afra’s relationship with her heritage and country remains key to shaping her identity and the directions in which that journey will take her.
“Being Emirati is my identity, my legacy, my pride and inspiration,” she says. “It is who I am.”
Looking to the future, Dr Afra acknowledges she has a plan and a strategy, but that remaining open to the changes in circumstance and opportunity that life can bring is of paramount importance.
“I like to have a plan, but one of the big life lessons has been to see where things go and be able to let go of the plan,” she says. “I’m okay with pivoting towards new opportunities.”
“I was called ‘noisy’ as a little girl,” Rowdha Ahmad Alsayegh laughs. “Then, I grew up and discovered it’s a talent. I am blessed with the ability to express. My inspiration has always been the passion of my younger self, as she loved being on stage and she loved writing. Today I’m blessed to get to live her dream.”
And what a dream. This year marks the fifth anniversary of her eponymous company, Rowdha SAY, a creative agency that tells its clients’ stories – Bulgari, Emirates Airline, Louis Vuitton, Emaar, UNESCO and Dubai Culture, to name but a few – in ways that are captivating, unique and inspirational.
“I enjoy how much people’s stories inspire me,” she says. “Every story has a magic in it, I enjoy finding the spark and sharing it with the world.”
Interestingly, the past looms large in Rowdha’s life. But where others might get stuck in its shadows, for Rowdha, it is an energising and invigorating source from which to be inspired.
“When I face challenges both personally and professionally, I return to my own words,” she notes. “I revisit poems I’ve written in the past, and in them I find traces of strength I may have forgotten.”
Family is at the heart of everything Rowdha does, and her young son, Khalid, is a key inspiration in her work. “With every story I tell, I have the next generation in mind,” the creative shares. “My son is one of them. I write while remembering that Khalid will one day read or see this – it must add to him, not take away. I believe I was made to be a mother. Between all my roles, it’s my favourite.”
For this deeply inspiring woman, creativity goes beyond storytelling – it is a way to connect across cultural and geographical divides.
“The creative scene has always been a soft power, a way to carry cultures across borders,” she says. “In every word I write, in every story I tell, I honour my culture. I give back by sharing the beauty of the UAE on international platforms, by representing my country in every project I take on, and by lifting others along the way. What the UAE has given me needs more than a lifetime to repay, but I’ll spend every day trying.”
A marketer, mentor and changemaker, Amina Taher has big ambition. And her personal driving force is leading her to take the UAE to new heights.
As Chief Marketing Officer at Wio Bank PJSC, the UAE’s first platform bank, Amina is redefining how we think about finance and storytelling. But her journey didn’t follow a fixed plan.
From shaping global campaigns at Etihad Airways to leading youth development initiatives at Mubadala, she’s moved with purpose, often entering male-dominated workspaces.
“My purpose is to create a meaningful impact,” she says. “I want to champion innovation, elevate community, and represent the UAE in ways that feel authentic to who we are.”
It’s a mission that extends beyond boardrooms. Amina is also Chair of The Marketing Society UAE, a platform through which she mentors the next generation of Emirati storytellers, instilling cultural pride and a global mindset.
“Marketing isn’t just selling,” she notes. “It’s cultural storytelling. It’s how we shape perceptions and create emotional connections that move people.”
Raised between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Amina has been shaped by generosity. “Giving back isn’t a side act,” she says. “It’s a mindset. I approach every role as a form of public service.”
Outside the office, she finds joy in simplicity. Whether that’s weekends with family, late-night padel games, or cheering on women’s football. Her daughter, Shamma, remains her guiding light. “She inspires me every day,” Amina says. “Everything I do is ultimately for her and the next generation.”
When asked what advice she lives by, Amina doesn’t hesitate. “Stay true to yourself. Some people find their calling early, others much later,” she shares. “Both journeys are valid. What matters is that you care deeply about what you do, and lead with purpose.”
At the intersection where modernity meets traditional Emirati craft is where you’ll find Sara Al Khayyal, standing calm and confident amid the shifting sands of the ever-evolving contemporary art scene.
A sought-after fresh new voice with a unique perspective on the Middle Eastern art scene, the 25-year-old interdisciplinary artist from Sharjah has spent the past three years – since she graduated in Graphic Design from Zayed University – immersing herself in the past, in the history and culture of the UAE, while remaining purposefully forward-thinking and open-minded.
“Professionally, I love to explore identity, heritage and culture in the UAE,” she says. “In my personal life, I like to explore the world and the wider environment around me. I see my purpose as both aligned and unaligned with my work. I love learning and exploring beyond what I’m comfortable with. I don’t mind the unknown. I appreciate the adrenaline rush of it. Each New Year, I set myself goals around what I want to explore, but I also leave room for luck.”
Right now, it’s hard to imagine any young artist occupying Sara’s space who is as busy. As well as her commissions and ongoing exhibits, she is at the tail-end of the 10-month-long SEAF Emerging Artists Fellowship by the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, in partnership with the Rhodes Island School of Design. She is also involved in the Dubai Public Art Education Programme 2025, a partnership between Dubai Culture and Art Dubai under the Dubai Public Art initiative; is designing a piece of furniture for the House of Artisans Design Competition by House of Artisans, an initiative under The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi; and immersing herself in the art of fine jewellery through the Talent Atelier programme by Dubai Culture and L’Ecole School of Jewellery Arts supported by Van Cleef & Arpels.
“I feel very fulfilled, grateful, and thankful for all that comes my way,” she says. “I always want to learn. I never mind being the beginner again.”
Turning her hand to the traditional Emirati crafts of khous, talli, and sadu proved to be a journey through heritage that led Sara to confront some hard truths about cultural responsibility.
“We talk about being among the last generations that will have access to the people who were there when the country was being built,” she reflects. “It’s a huge responsibility to act upon. I’m hopefully contributing by highlighting these crafts.”
If further proof were needed about the revitalising power of youthful energy, Sara has an idea. “It doesn’t exist yet,” she says, “but I would fully support the creation of an Ambassadorship for Emirati crafts. I hope that becomes a thing and that my work contributes to that.” She pauses. “I’m currently in my ‘What’s next?’ phase.”
Photographer: Žiga Mihelčič
Creative Producer: Beya Bou-Harb
Styling: Polina Shabelinova
Hair and Makeup: Safiyah Cassim
Assistant Hair and Makeup: Natalia Bokan
Feature image:
Left to right: Amina Taher wears an abaya by 1309 and a sheila by Beige Collection, with a shirt and trousers by Loro Piana. Her jewellery is the Bvlgari B.zero1 Rock Chain necklace, the Bvlgari B.zero1 Rock Chain pendant earrings, the Bvlgari Serpenti Seduttori watch with white silver opaline dial, the Bvlgari Serpenti Viper one-coil ring, and the Bvlgari B.zero1 three-band ring. Rowdha Ahmad Alsayegh wears an abaya by Naf Designs. Her jewellery is the Bvlgari Bvlgari sautoir, the Bvlgari B.zero1 ring, and the Bvlgari B.zero1 four-band ring. Sara Al Khayyal wears a dress and sheila by Beige Collection with an abaya by Naf Designs. Her jewellery is the Bvlgari Serpenti Viper one-coil bracelet and the Bvlgari Lvcea watch with white mother-of-pearl intarsio dial. Dr Afra Atiq wears an abaya by Manaal Hammadi. Her jewellery is the Bvlgari B.zero1 hoop earrings, the Bvlgari Tubogas necklace, the Bvlgari Serpenti two-coil ring, and the Bvlgari Serpenti Tubogas single-spiral watch with white opaline dial, all by Bvlgari.
