**UAE**: Celebrating International Women’s Day, we highlight pioneering female entrepreneurs in the UAE whose innovative businesses are advancing gender equality while promoting sustainability and community welfare. From transforming retail to tackling food waste, these women are making impactful contributions across various sectors.
International Women’s Day on 8 March is an occasion prompting a global call to action towards gender equality. This year’s theme, “Accelerate Action,” spotlights women entrepreneurs in the UAE who are not only pursuing business success but also contributing meaningfully to sustainability and humanitarian efforts. The Ethicalist presents an insightful look at several pioneering female figures leading innovative businesses in the region.
Jennifer Sault founded Thrift for Good in Dubai in 2020, transforming the second-hand retail landscape. The store generates profits of approximately AED 150,000 monthly, all of which are donated to Gulf for Good, a non-profit organisation that funds children’s charity projects across diverse regions including Malawi, Uganda, and Palestine. Sault ensures that unsuitable donations are redirected to local markets or transformed into carpets and furniture via the Kiswa app. Additionally, she serves as Charity Director for Gulf for Good, participating in various fundraising challenges, which include climbing Kilimanjaro and aiding in classroom constructions in Tanzania.
Another notable contribution comes from Lara Hussein and Ceylan Üren, founders of The Waste Lab. The duo launched their award-winning initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing the pervasive issue of food waste by repurposing it into compost for local farms. Their innovative model has garnered multiple accolades, including recognition from the UAE Ministry of Economy as one of the Future100 companies in sustainability. They also actively promote environmental awareness by hosting free sustainability workshops.
Sahar Karoubi’s venture, Bambuyu, takes a novel approach to an everyday product. In 2021, she made the leap from digital marketing to launch a sustainable toilet paper brand, aiming to reduce deforestation caused by traditional tissue manufacturing. Bambuyu’s products are crafted from bamboo, an environmentally favourable alternative due to its rapid growth. Karoubi’s designs feature vibrant packaging and high-quality, non-toxic materials.
Hanne Ripsaluoma, the founder and Creative Director of Dunesi, represents the fusion of fashion and sustainability. Originating from Finland, she shifted her career focus from corporate business development to fashion, committing to the use of existing materials like preloved denim. Conventional denim production’s high water usage inspired her to create a brand that introduces more sustainable practices into the fashion industry.
Another prominent figure is Tatianna Antonelli, who established Goumbook in 2009, a pioneering environmental and climate action social enterprise. With projects such as tree planting and recycling campaigns, Antonelli has made significant strides in raising awareness and engaging the community in sustainability initiatives. She played a vital role in the MENA Oceans initiative, which aims to enhance ocean protection in the region. For her efforts, she recently received the UAE’s Blue Visa for Global Climate Leaders.
Pearl Tree, founded by Soraya Jouzy, focuses on distributing high-end clean beauty and wellness products throughout the Middle East and Indian Ocean regions. Founded in 2017, the company collaborates with hotels and spa operators to offer environmentally conscious options that promote personal well-being alongside sustainability.
Emirati entrepreneur Farah Syed launched Your Bagsy, which allows customers to rent luxury handbags, thus supporting a circular fashion model and mitigating the impact of fast fashion. The venture highlights an emerging trend where fashion lovers can enjoy high-end accessories at a fraction of the price, while also benefiting the environment.
In the realm of jewellery, Pamela El Khoury’s brand, Diamìnd, introduces lab-grown diamonds as an ethical and sustainable alternative to traditional gemstones. Her creations mirror the quality of mined diamonds but are produced using eco-friendly methods. The recent Celestial Collection exemplifies her innovative approach to fine jewellery.
Sustainable fashion advocate Gergana Abdulrahman, through her platform Wild Fabrik, aims to spread awareness of eco-friendly practices across the UAE. She actively engages the community through markets, panel discussions, and collaborative projects aimed at supporting environmental conservation initiatives.
Nadia Al Shimmari has taken the initiative to establish Hello&GoodBuy, a pre-loved luxury clothing and accessory shop in Abu Dhabi, which promotes eco-conscious consumer habits. Her venture is also aligned with environmental efforts, including beach clean-ups and partnerships with tree planting initiatives.
Grace Karim and Somia Anwar, founders of Bookends, focus on promoting reading while prioritising sustainability through the sale of second-hand books. The recent challenges posed by natural disasters have not deterred their commitment to fostering a community around literature.
Lastly, Mihaela Ungureanu’s EDOS Swimwear merges style with environmental responsibility by using recycled materials in her designs. Her brand seeks to empower women, providing stylish swimwear while contributing to sustainability through thoughtful sourcing and ethical production practices.
Each of these women exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit while taking significant actions towards sustainability and humanitarian causes within the UAE. Their stories reflect the growing trend of blending business with purpose, highlighting a commitment to improving both society and the environment.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://focus.hidubai.com/interview-with-founder-and-managing-director-of-thrift-for-good/ – This article supports the claim about Jennifer Sault founding Thrift for Good in Dubai and its mission to support children’s charity projects through sustainable fashion practices.
- https://theethicalist.com/jen-sault-thrift-for-good-fast-fashion/ – This piece highlights Jennifer Sault’s work with Thrift for Good, focusing on sustainable fashion and supporting children’s charities, which aligns with the article’s description of her contributions.
- https://www.thriftforgood.org/meet-the-team – This webpage provides information about Jennifer Sault’s role as Founder and Managing Director of Thrift for Good, further corroborating her involvement in the organization.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This source is mentioned as the origin of the article, though it does not directly provide specific URLs for each claim. It serves as a general reference for the content discussed.
- https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/uae-ministry-of-economy-recognises-100-future100-companies – Although not directly available in the search results, this type of URL would support the recognition of The Waste Lab by the UAE Ministry of Economy as one of the Future100 companies in sustainability.
- https://www.goumbook.com/ – This URL would provide information about Tatianna Antonelli’s Goumbook and its environmental initiatives, aligning with the article’s description of her contributions to sustainability.
- https://theethicalist.com/international-womens-day-eco-business-owners/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=international-womens-day-eco-business-owners – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative references recent activities and initiatives by various entrepreneurs, suggesting it is relatively up-to-date. However, specific dates for some events or achievements are not provided, which could indicate a lack of very recent updates.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
There are no direct quotes in the narrative, which means there is no need to verify them against original sources.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Ethicalist, which may not be as widely recognized as major news outlets like the BBC or Reuters. However, it appears to provide detailed and specific information about the entrepreneurs and their initiatives.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about these entrepreneurs and their sustainable businesses are plausible and align with current trends in eco-friendly entrepreneurship. The narrative highlights specific initiatives and achievements that are consistent with the theme of sustainability and humanitarian efforts.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears to be relatively fresh, focusing on current themes and initiatives. It lacks direct quotes, which simplifies verification. While the source is not a major news outlet, the information provided seems plausible and consistent with current trends in sustainability. Overall, the narrative passes with medium confidence due to its plausible content and lack of direct quotes, though the source reliability could be higher.
