Dubai-based entrepreneur and author Samya Al Harbi has a story as compelling as those she writes. Six years ago, she moved from Riyadh to the UAE to pursue her entrepreneurial ambitions, establishing Samiyah Ahmed Gold Trading, which became the first and only female-led gold trading business in Dubai. Yet, beyond her personal achievements in a male-dominated industry, Samya has long harboured a passion for writing. 

This January, she took this passion to a new level with the release of her latest book, Not Like Other Women, which tells the inspiring stories of some of the women she met throughout her life. 

“I have experienced so many things in my life, and I have met a lot of women through work and in my personal life. I believe every woman has a story to tell,” Samya tells Villa 88. 

Her book, a collection of twelve short stories, draws inspiration from the lives of women she has encountered, recounting their challenges and triumphs. “These are real stories,” she says. “They have all overcome struggles to become stronger and wiser, and this book focuses on that.”

Writing has always been a part of Samya’s life whenever she could fine the time, but, thanks to the sensitive nature of the subjects her book talks about, she waited for the right moment to share these deeply personal narratives. 

“As an Arab woman, it’s not easy to talk about these things. Society doesn’t always accept women speaking openly about their problems and experiences,” she shares. “We need someone to come forward and speak on behalf of these women, and that’s what I aim to do with this book. I feel it’s the right time because attitudes toward women have changed a lot in the region. People in the Gulf have started listening to women. They have started to respect their opinions – this was not the case ten years ago.” 

While Samya is keen not to give away too much of the book’s contents, she does share some snippets, including from one particularly poignant story titled Hessa in Wonderland. It narrates the journey of a young lady who left her life in Riyadh to help women and children in Africa receive education, work opportunities, and better healthcare. “She’s now living in Africa building schools and hospitals,” Samya says. “She realised she wanted to live another life that would help people.” 

While Not Like Other Women celebrates resilience and transformation, it also highlights the lingering and very real challenges women face, touching on subjects that include motherhood, career, health and relationships. 

“There is hope of change, but many women still feel they are not heard,” reveals Samya. “I travel a lot and I’ve noticed that women all around the world share the same problems. We are in a much better place than we were ten years ago, but I still feel the stigma around women talking about their problems on a public platform.” 

Samya speaks further of a changing world, in which women of her generation have been given better opportunities than those before them – her own daughters even more so. However, she acknowledges that there is still much work to be done. 

Her journey to success has been anything but easy. As a mother, grandmother, and a trailblazer in the competitive gold-trading industry, she has faced countless obstacles. “It’s very difficult, especially in a male-dominated field,” she says. “The competition is intense, and to build a name as the only woman in this space and achieve so much in six years is a statement in itself. I’m very proud of where I am today, competing with men and excelling.”

Building on this, it looks like her book is just the beginning of a new chapter in Samya’s life that aims to inspire women, giving them confidence and hope through her words. She sees herself as part of a legacy of women advocating for change. “Wherever we are today, it’s because of the women before us who fought for it. We are continuing this message for future generations,” she asserts. 

Samya hopes her daughters and granddaughters will learn from her experiences and the stories she tells. The message she wishes to share with them is clear. “I want them to dream, believe in their dreams, and work for them. It’s not only about dreaming – it took me 18 years to get where I am today,” she notes. “It’s not easy. There will be challenges, but if you keep dreaming and working, you will achieve what you set out to do.”

Not Like Other Women is now available for purchase on Amazon