Meet the women shaping Dubai’s future
From restaurants to wellness, lifestyle brands and beyond, these women are reshaping industries and breaking barriers. Meet the trailblazers turning bold ideas into Dubai’s next big success stories.
Lucy Gibson – Founder of Sand Dollar and Heart Cottage Lane
Lucy Gibson
WO: Why is Dubai a great city to be a female entrepreneur?
LG: One major factor is the flexibility to juggle home life and work. Safety and stability, world-class schools and extra support – I have amazing help at home and a flexible husband who helps with school drop-offs – they really do aid my success.
What inspired you to start your businesses?
It was due to a combination of being young and willing to Sand Dollar take risks (I didn’t have children and responsibility when I started Sand Dollar), I wanted to work for myself after working hard under strict leadership, and it was the right place and the right time. I saw a gap in the market in an environment of sunshine all year and thought I’d give it a go!
What piece of advice would you give to someone at the start of their business journey?
Start slow and build your business organically. Do not rush and remain resilient. If it were that easy, everyone would be doing it. Work through the hard times and don’t give up.
What’s your favourite way to spend a day in Dubai?
Away from the five-star restaurants and fancy beach clubs, I enjoy going back to basics with a mountain walk in Ras Al Khaimah or the Mushrif Park hiking trail, or a rustic trip to Oman, where I used to live as a child. Old school Dubai resorts are another place I love to go, such as JA, where the beaches are quiet.
@sand dollar dubai, @heartcottagelanedxb
Eliza Hutchinson – Founder of Jetlagged Chef
Eliza Hutchinson
What inspired you to start Jetlagged Chef?
The story behind Jetlagged Chef starts with my love of cooking; I’ve always enjoyed the small details that go into creating meals that bring people joy. When I saw an opportunity to bring that same feeling into the calorie-tracked world, I jumped at it. I love getting creative with our meals and giving people something they don’t expect from meal prep.
What’s your favourite way to spend a day in Dubai?
Even on my days off, I usually end up doing something cooking-related. There’s something very therapeutic about cooking, apart from the cleaning up. I love making Aussie-inspired breakfasts or hosting my girlfriends for dinner.
What piece of advice would you give to someone at the start of their business journey?
Get involved in as many areas of your business as possible. Knowledge is power, and understanding your product, team, customers and company better than anyone else will always be a superpower. Listen to your customers but try not to take everything to heart. All feedback is useful. And of course, have fun.
What’s the best part about being a female founder in Dubai?
The community of female founders here is incredibly warm and empowering. Dubai is a city where women genuinely want to connect and collaborate simply to support one another. It really does feel like a business sisterhood.
Sophie Malpass – Founder of Super SUP Fit
Sophie Malpass
How did you come to start Super SUP Fit?
I vividly remember seeing someone do a downward-facing dog on a stand-up paddleboard on holiday in Greece in the sea around 7 years ago – it felt like a lightbulb went off in my head. I wanted to create a workout I wish I could go to. Trained as an ex- professional dancer, fitness classes lost their magic, so I’m massively passionate that movement should be celebrated and, above all, fun! Being in water with sunshine instantly boosts energy, and having permission to splash as an adult is something we never really do anymore. The balance adds an extra challenge, and I wanted to create a unique and really special mind and soul experience in some of Dubai’s most incredible locations.
What’s the best part about being a female founder in Dubai?
The opportunities are literally endless! I could only have dreamt of some of the experiences I have had here. The help and support of other women, both in and out of business, has been so warm, genuinely heartfelt and collaborative.
What piece of advice would you give to someone at the start of their business journey?
It will never be perfect (trust me), just start, and you can work it out as you go – that’s the best part. Life is too short to build someone else’s dream, so just go for it.
by– Founder of Girl & the Goose
Gabriela Chamorro
What inspired you to start your business?
Girl & the Goose began as a deeply personal project. I wanted to tell my story through food and give Central American flavours a voice in a city where they were largely missing. The supper club allowed me to cook honestly and build a community around one table, without pressure or pretence. A restaurant was never the initial goal. After five years of hosting supper clubs, the idea evolved naturally through relationships built on trust. It became a true collaboration grounded in shared values, respect, and a long-term vision.
Why is Dubai a great city to be a female entrepreneur?
Dubai rewards ambition and action. It’s Gabriela Chamorro a city where ideas are taken seriously, regardless of gender, age, or background. As a female entrepreneur, I’ve found the ecosystem to be incredibly open-minded, fast-moving, and supportive. There is space here to build something from scratch, to test, adapt, and grow quickly. More importantly, there is genuine respect for women who lead with clarity, discipline, and purpose.
What’s the best part about being a female founder in Dubai?
The sense of community. There’s a strong network of women here who lead with generosity rather than competition. Being a female founder in Dubai means being part of a broader conversation about building responsibly, supporting one another, and creating businesses that have meaning beyond profit. That shared mindset is empowering.
Becky Balderstone – Founder of The Ripe Market
Becky Balderstone
What’s your favourite way to spend a day in Dubai?
With my family, enjoying the outdoors, discovering new homegrown food concepts, and making time for health and wellness. There’s always something new opening here, and I love how the city constantly evolves while still offering space to slow down.
What inspired you to start your business?
I recognised a gap in the market for accessible, locally grown organic produce and a need for stronger community connection. What began as a way to support local farmers and small businesses quickly evolved into something much bigger. As Ripe grew, I realised there was a real demand for platforms that champion homegrown talent, creativity, and entrepreneurship and that vision continues to drive everything I do today.
What’s the best part about being a female founder in Dubai?
One of the best parts is the sense of possibility. Dubai is a place where ideas can turn into reality very quickly and being a female founder here means being part of a growing, inspiring community of women who are building meaningful businesses across industries. There’s a strong culture of collaboration and support, and I’ve found that people are genuinely open to backing ideas that create value and impact.
Sophie Jones – Founder of SOTA Salon
Sophie Jones
Why is Dubai a great city to be a female entrepreneur?
Dubai truly is the land of opportunity, which is why it’s such a powerful place for female entrepreneurs. You can have an idea here and genuinely bring it to life. Not everyone has the drive or mental strength to build something from the ground up, but if you do, Dubai is a place where you can thrive. It supports growth on a different level, puts you in rooms you never imagined, and shows you what’s possible when ambition is matched with action. There are no limits to growth here if you’re willing to do the work.
What piece of advice would you give to someone at the start of their business journey?
If you have a goal or even a plan, you’re already halfway there. Take the risk and just go for it! You won’t have everything figured out at the beginning, and that’s okay. Rome wasn’t built in a day’ Consistency and core values matter, especially when building a team. Choose wisely, take your time, from experience rushing this can be detrimental. Make sure the people you bring into your business truly align with what your brand stands for.
What’s your favourite way to spend a day in Dubai?
My favourite days are when I get to watch my team win, supporting them as they reach both personal and professional goals is incredibly fulfilling. Seeing their growth reminds me of why I built SOTA the way I did.
