Middle Eastern jewelry brands are having a moment in the global spotlight—and with good reason. Under the stewardship of Arab jewelry brands, from emerging names to heritage mainstays, you can expect show-stopping creations that are designed to steal your breath away.
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These are not pieces that sit meekly for a quiet glimmer of sparkle on the nape of your neck, no. Think larger-than-life creations that proclaim to the world that life is your own personal red carpet. Theatrical flourishes that borrow from the most-loved emblems of the region’s design history. Modern heirlooms that you will want to pass on the next generation someday.
Ahead, you can expect to meet Emirati jewelry brands that deserve a spot on your radar. The must-have Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet born from an exciting collaboration with an Emirati artist. The Saudi coin charm necklaces you won’t want to leave home without. And, above all else, a more comprehensive understanding of why is Dubai known for jewelry. Ready to get started?
What are the top jewelry brands in Dubai?
What do the most popular jewelry brands in Dubai have in common? A refusal to take the easy route. These are not pieces that sit meekly for a quiet glimmer of sparkle on the nape of your neck, no. Think larger-than-life creations that proclaim to the world that life is your own personal red carpet. Theatrical flourishes that borrow from the most-loved emblems of the region’s design history. Modern heirlooms that you will want to pass on the next generation someday. Here are the names to know:
If you can’t say no to a neck party: Savolinna Jewelry
You don’t need to master the art of layering — jewelry designer Hessa Alshafar will do it for you. Since 2017, her creations have moved from the Dubai sartorial scene to the shelves of Bergdorf Goodman and Moda Operandi in the US, making her among the emerging Middle Eastern female jewelry designers to watch. Armed with her love for enameling, chunky gold and emeralds, the brand’s lineup promises everything you need to get your neck party started. Or an arm stack. Or a mix-but-never-match ring curation.
How to style it: With chunky silhouettes that are guaranteed to draw the eye, look to Alshafar’s creations to liven up a basic white tee and jeans duet.
If you like a standout geometric moment: Shamsa AlAbbar
What happens when the love for Arabic calligraphy meets a bold geometric design ethos? Shamsa AlAbbar has the answers. As with most success stories, hers is a happy accident. When she first sketched her best friend’s name with Arabic letters, she had no way of knowing that it would spark a larger need for abstract jewelry designs that champion Arabic art. In the ten years since, she has poured her eye for the extraordinary into her eponymous brand. Expect standout pieces that can be worn and reworn for endless situations on your social calendar—this one is not for the wallflowers.
How to style it: Allow the clean, sleek lines of the Token XL ring to serve as the perfect accompaniment for abayas and evening dresses, alike.
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If you are in your wanderlust era: Noora Shawqi
So, jetsetting around the world isn’t on your bingo card for 2024? Sit back and allow Noora Shawqi to bring the finest treasures from around the world to you. From Morocco, she plucked the signature mosaic patterns. From The Maldives, she morphed the sparkling turquoise into immensely wearable shell pendants. A brief pitstop in Japan brought forth detachable necklaces designed to be worn two ways.
How to style it: The merry riot of hues in Noorq Shawqi’s designs is your license to dream up creative color pairings.
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If you have a thing for wearable art: Alia bin Omair
When you pick up a piece from Alia bin Omair, you never know where the journey will take you. After all, memories are the living, breathing element that she works on painstakingly preserving in 18-karat gold. A pair of gold danglers are no longer just that—they are souvenirs from a bygone era, mementoes of religious celebrations for children who had memorized the Qur’an. If Alia bin Omair wasn’t on your list of top Arab jewelry designers already, she will be now.
How to style it: The merry turqouise hues work as well with sundresses during off-duty hours as they do with formal all-black numbers in the boardroom.
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If your jewelry box is craving some nostalgia: Gafla
When Dubai-based Hamad Bin Shaiban and Abdulla Beljafla came together to start a jewelry brand, the vision was clear: to create timeless pieces of art that could honor their passion for their shared Emirati heritage. The result is an exquisite that reimagines traditional motifs and themes in imaginative new ways.
How to style it: Level up a white tee and denim duet with the freshwater pearls of the Bahar Gafla earrings.
Bahar Galfa earrings large, Gafla
Saudi jewelry brands preserving the heritage of the region
If you’d like to feel like royalty: Nuun Jewels
On days when you are looking to feel like royalty, it helps to dress like one. For more cues on the latter, look to HRH Nourah AlFaisal for answers. What began as a hobby soon blossomed into a renowned Middle Eastern jewelry brand celebrated on both sides of the globe. The journey that started with redesigning one of her mother’s earrings is now cultivated into a lasting expression of Saudi Arabia’s art and design heritage.
How to style it: Wonder Woman has her cuffs, the Nuun woman has something better—the ability to elevate any outfit by sliding on a gemstone-studded cuff.
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If you believe less is always more: Dalal Jewelry
The quintessential crossed swords and palm tree of the Saudi emblem sparkle a little brighter in 18-karat gold and luminescent diamonds. The rock formations of the Alula Mountains are fashioned into a statement pendant, with a lapis stone mirroring the blue skies. Geometric letters are suspended from sparkling gold chains, the triangular silhouette bringing to mind the old houses of Najd. Dalal Jewelry’s culturally-inspired creations are not pieces you’ll wear for brunch once and then get buried at the bottom of your jewelry box. These are destined to be worn and treasured for years to come.
How to style it: The diamond-studded Saudia brooch is the styling trick you’ll want up your sleeve when you are looking to elevate a basic blazer.
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If you’d like to take a little walk down memory lane: Haneen Saber Jewellery
If you were dozing just a little through history class, allow jewelry designer Haneen Saber to serve as your guide through one of the world’s most celebrated civilizations. Her master’s degree in Islamic art and architecture now seeks expression through the culturally-derived motifs and iconography of her Middle Eastern jewelry brand.
How to style it: Once you layer the horizontal bars of the blue Quran-inspired collection with your everyday go-to pieces, you’ll have a hard time taking it off.
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If you’re a connoisseur of cultural masterpieces: Charmaleena
What do you get when you put together two Saudi sisters from Jeddah with a love for exploring the region’s cultural legacy? A contemporary fine jewelry brand that will whisk you through the pages of history. With the launch of the ‘Charmed’ collection, the brand is looking at elevating this everyday staple into unique visual markers of Saudi Arabia’s history.
How to style it: Rubies or sapphires? Black onyx or tsavorite? Sometimes, you simply can’t choose one. And with Charmleena’s endless options, you won’t want to restrict yourself to just one either.
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Where to find Arabic-inspired jewelry for women
The visual lexicon of Arabic design is endless. It comes as little surprise that it is now playing muse for a new crop of talented jewelry designers. Ahead, all the Middle Eastern jewelry brands to reach for when you are looking to express your personality:
If your jewelry has to be as individualistic as you are: Bil Arabi
Showing up at a party wearing the same jewelry as everyone else? Not a question that ever crosses the mind of the Bil Arabi muse. Founded by Nadine Kanso in 2006, the brand has since become synonymous with its one-of-a-kind masterpieces. Endlessly fascinated by the curves and contours of the Arabic alphabet, Kanso works on morphing them into never-seen-before creations.
How to style it: Bil Arabi’s personalized danglers are best paired with a pulled-back updo and a bare neck.
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If you’ve never met a personalized piece you didn’t love: Hiba Jaber
There are few moments in the life of a jewelry designer’s life when they know they have made it. When one of your customized creations is gifted to Queen Rania on her 50th birthday by Jordanian princess Ayah bint Faisal, that should be about it. The Palestinian designer’s custom creations inspired by the Arabic alphabet have since earned her a spot among the most coveted luxury jewelry brands from the region.
How to style it: Pair your bejeweled initials with a lustrous silk kaftan for all the Eid soirées on your social calendar this season.
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If you’re looking for modern heirlooms: Lillian Ismail
Inspiration can strike anywhere. For Lillian Ismail, it struck when she gazed at a picture of the Jadeela braids worn by Saudi women and found herself pondering how it would look if it was immortalized in 18-karat gold. Her Middle Eastern jewelry brand is now synonymous with Arabic-inspired creations, such as the Saudi coin charm necklaces that will allow you to carry a piece of home wherever you go in the world.
How to style it: Layer the designer’s coin necklaces over your favorite knits in colder climes and stack it with multiple necklaces during summer.
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If you’d like to bring some global savoir-faire to your jewelry box:
The latest jewelry trends in the Middle East have caught the eye of the international fashion spectrum. Unsurprisingly, a host of global jewelry houses are now looking at personalizing creations for the region. Here are the finest names to choose from:
- For the holy month of Ramadan, Van Cleef & Arpels has teamed up with Emirati artist Fatima Alketbi. The result is a collection that champions Arabic calligraphy with the maison’s signature elegance.
Photo: Courtesy Van Cleef & Arpels
- Under the glow of the crescent moon, Swarorvski wants you to shine just a little brighter this Ramadan with the Luna collection inspired by the phases of the moon.
Luna pendant, Swarovski
- For Ramadan 2024, Cartier toasts the bonds of love and togetherness of the season with its signature eternity rings and his-and-hers love bands.
Juste en Clou bracelet, Cartier
- The festive season assumes a brighter sparkle with Bulgari’s signature Serpenti creations. Fair warning: You won’t want to stop at just one.
Serpenti viper ring, Bulgari
