Women artists turn passion for art into thriving business

From modest beginnings of Dh200, they have climbed the ladder of success and captivated international brands with their unique design and creativity

- Rugayya Al Qaydi and Sara AlKuwari

Three talented women are redefining success in the art world in the UAE, transforming modest beginnings of just Dh200 into thriving businesses.

From captivating international brands with unique designs to establishing careers, each highlight how artistic passion can lead to financial success.

Maryam Hamad, a 34-year-old Emirati from Dubai, shared her journey as an artist. "My beginnings in drawing started from a young age. I would draw whenever I had free time. Later, I participated in drawing competitions during elementary and middle school and always won. I saw myself as an artist and tried to emulate what I admired. It might even be hereditary in our family," she said.

After getting married and having children, Maryam began to develop her skills by enrolling in the Sharjah Institute of Arts. "My teacher was an amazing artist who saw potential in me and worked with me. After that, I became independent and started my own business, initially drawing on gift bags. I used to sell them for Dh10 to Dh20 and then my business took off completely," she added.

As her skills developed, Maryam hoped to create something with her hands that would be found in every home. "From there, I began to draw on literally everything," she said.