As the world marks International Women’s Day, we take a look at the female entrepreneurs in the Emirates who are successfully using the social media platform to help make their mark.
Huda Kattan
The beauty blogger turned influencer has the most followed Instagram account in the UAE.
She formally worked in finance, but according to her website, felt there was something missing from her life. She started her blog in 2010 and it soon became a community for those who wished to share their beauty inspirations and also learn from others. Born in the United States to Iraqi parents, she now lives in Dubai.
She has 18.1 million followers and can be followed here
Michelle Karam
Michelle is a travel and lifestyle blogger who shares her passion for different locations and countries around the world.
With a background in events and travel, she launched her blog, traveljunkiediary.com and works closely with hotels and tourism boards as well as reporting on her adventures.
She has 84,000 followers and can be followed here.
Alanoud Badr
She is the founder and designer of Lady Fozaza, is an internationally-acclaimed fashion designer, consultant and stylist.
She has 526,000 followers and can be followed here
Rania & Zaina Kanaan
They used their passion for cycling to create charicycles, a successful business where they upscale vintage bikes and donate bikes to children in refugee camps.
The bicycles descend from a lineage of the Japanese bicycle and can be customised with different colours and can include features such as a wicker basket.
While the siblings had no mechanical experience between them, they learnt how to disassemble a bicycle by watching YouTube videos – a process Rania particularly relished. Read more on their story here.
They have 12,300 followers and can be followed here
Conel van Zyl
She’s a community member based in Dubai who shares her love for photography across her Instagram page. Her photos include locations both in the UAE and abroad.
She has 9,353 followers and can be followed here
Debbie Fortes
Focusing on Dubai, the full-time photographer’s stunning pictures capture the city and surrounding area at its most beautiful and stark.
From simple stairways to the soaring Burj Khalifa and Downtown skyline and on to the desert, she captures a sense of place and also features locations overseas.
In 2015, an image of the Liwa desert she shot on her smartphone featured on billboards worldwide after it was selected by Apple for an ad campaign.
Ms Fortes has exhibited her photos in various shows in Sharjah and Dubai. While she draws inspiration from many sources, she said Liwa was still her favourite spot.
She has 53,500 followers and can be followed here
Kelly Lundberg
She launched StyleMeDivine.com in 2005 - a bespoke styling agency. Her business has developed into an international style forum for both men and women and she also offers corporate and retail training and mentoring. She is also a renowned keynote speaker and former air hostess.
"People have been asking me how to become a stylist since I started the business; it's hard to stand out in a crowded market," she said when featured by The National last year. "And stylists find it hard to go from a hobby, styling friends for free, to a working business that clients pay for. This is a business in a shopping bag."
She has 22,200 followers and can be followed here
Nadine du Toit
Fitness fanatic turned businesswoman, Nadine launched GloryGirl Fitness which is a personal training and fitness programme.
Her posts range from activities such as snowboarding, horseriding, working out on the beach and generally living an active around the world.
She told The National in 2013 that it wasn't long after coming to work for Emirates in 2004 that she gained not only the dreaded Dubai stone but also about 30 kilograms.
After three months of online coaching, dieting and exercising, she “got down to a beautiful weight”. She later trained for fitness qualifications.
“I was also looking for my purpose,” she says. “I knew there was more out there. I wanted to help people and I especially had a heart for women.”
She has 37,900 followers and can be followed here
Sarah Beydoun
Having started off in Beirut, she now sells her bags, through the brand Sarah’s Bag, in 22 countries. She describes herself as a social enterprise that creates one-of-a-kind luxury hand crafted bags and accessories that empower both the women who make them and the women who wear them.
Last month she was among dozens of women from the region who attended an event to celebrate the launch of a new initiative from Facebook called #SheMeansBusiness, which supports female entrepreneurs in the Middle East and North Africa.
She has 59,500 followers and can be followed here
Umit Savas
The photographer shares her passion for different locations across the UAE, with iconic landmarks and as well as undiscovered places.
She has 70,600 followers and can be followed here
