5 Women Entrepreneurs Making Waves in Dubai

At the start of a new decade, it’s a good time to review women’s achievements in entrepreneurship these past few years. The Dubai government’s focus on economic development and growth, has created increased opportunities for women’s participation, in the region’s burgeoning startup landscape. Across Dubai, women from around the world are innovating new products and services, providing social-impact solutions and meeting diverse-consumer demands. 

Here are five entrepreneurial women that you should definitely know about.

Nadine Mezher – SARWA

Cofounder of financial investment and advisory firm, Sarwa, Nadine Mezher wanted to start a business that made financial loans more accessible to new and young startup owners in Dubai. Partnered with a Canadian team, and now the chief managing officer, her company offers minimum-account options, (as low as USD 500), reduced fees, and added services to assist new entrepreneurs, with gaining a foothold in the market. 

Raina and Zaina Kanaan – Chari Bicycles

Palestinian-Canadian sisters Raina and Zaina Kanaan are founders of Chari Bicycles, the only custom bicycle shop in Dubai. Here, they refurbish vintage Japanese frames, and for every five bicycles sold, they remodel and donate one to children living in Palestinian and Syrian refugee camps. While Dubai is the site of their innovation lab, their business also has an added impact in protecting the environment through the reuse of waste materials, as well as, supporting a humanitarian cause. 

Elena Agaragimova – Agar Global Services

Elena Agaragimova is the founded of Agar Global Services, a professional talent training firm, located in Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone which offers women-focused business set up packages. Her startup offers a full-suite of business-development solutions, including branding, public relations, leadership, career growth, and organizational-operations support. A TedX presenter, Forbes Middle East contributor, and blog writer, Agaragimova’s career-coaching services are highly sought after.

Nayla Al Khaja – D-SEVEN Motion Pictures

D-SEVEN Motion Pictures is a production studio that’s the brainchild of film director Nayla Al Khaja. She and her team produce films for diverse sectors including, animation, commercial, and music videos, but Khaja is most known for her work featuring social issues, including women and humanitarian rights. Due to her expertise she has served as judge at various local and international film festivals, and is known widely for her work in Arab cinema. 

Huda Kattan – Huda Beauty

No list of Dubai women entrepreneurs can omit Huda Kattan, founder of Huda Beauty. Gaining experience as a makeup artist with commercial brands, Kattan branched out to be begin her own beauty blog where she also posted Youtube tutorials. Today her cosmetics line is carried by international makeup retailer Sephora, counting the likes of Kim Kardashian and other celebrities among her loyal customers.

If you’re an entrepreneur looking to create products and services for women by women, contact Decisive Zone and learn how and where to get started.