Eman Sultan

Mahdi Al Shafiei, The Visionary Who Turned Rejection Into Possibility By Eman Sultan Some entrepreneurs build companies while others build movements. Mahdi Al Shafiei belongs firmly to the latter. His journey was never about chasing titles or validation. It was about redefining ambition for a new generation. Long before his name became associated with billions of views and global expansion, he was simply a young boy growing up in Dubai, watching a city rise from sand to skyline at an unprecedented pace. In that environment, reinvention was not an exception but a rule. For Mahdi, it became a way of life. Between cranes, construction, and constant transformation, a quiet belief took shape that he, too, could create something meaningful and lasting. His foundations were formed long before investors or business plans entered the picture. Raised by Iranian Emirati parents, Mahdi grew up with discipline, responsibility, and a strong sense of identity. Dubai added another layer by offering imagination and the belief that possibilities had no limits. That balance between structure and vision became the core of his personality and later the backbone of his success. At Sheffield Private School, Mahdi was never the loudest voice in the room, but he was always the most observant. He studied people closely, noticing patterns in behavior and influence. At Canadian University Dubai, where he studied communication and advertising, that curiosity deepened into an obsession with understanding why people listen, why ideas spread, and why certain stories resonate. These questions shaped not only his education but his future direction. As he puts it, “I was always fascinated by why some ideas catch fire and others just fade away.” The defining moment of his career came through rejection. While working as an employee filled with belief in an idea he pitched, the response he received was a simple no. What seemed like a closed door became a moment of clarity. “If I truly believed in it, I had to make it happen myself. Looking back, that rejection was the best thing that ever happened to me. It forced me to create something on my own terms, and that’s exactly why I’m here today.” That moment marked the transition from employee to builder. At just 24 years old, Mahdi founded what would later become Trifid Media. The early days were far from polished. He entered entrepreneurship believing passion and online research could solve everything, only to be met with the realities of contracts, failed deals, financial mistakes, and constant uncertainty. Instead of being discouraged, he treated every setback as a lesson. Step by step, he built systems and structures that eventually became the foundation of Trifid’s global operations. As the company grew, so did attention around his leadership style. Unlike traditional executives, Mahdi deliberately built a young team, seeing fearlessness and optimism as assets rather than risks. He placed trust in people before they believed in themselves, and that trust often transformed them. At Trifid Media, creativity is not constrained by hierarchy. Youth is viewed as speed, courage, and a direct connection to the future. “I want my team to think like owners, not employees,” he says, a philosophy that defines the culture he has created. Despite the scale Trifid Media has reached, Mahdi remains deeply involved in the work. He continues to record, edit, and mentor, driven more by passion than ego. He rejects the idea of work life balance, seeing it as limiting, and instead embraces what he calls work life harmony, where purpose and profession are aligned. Trifid Media’s expansion across the GCC and into Australia reflects this mindset. What began as a simple holiday evolved into a major turning point when casual social media content sparked conversations, inquiries, and partnerships. Within months, the company established a presence on a new continent. “Marketing in Australia is still practiced in a very traditional way. There’s a huge opportunity for content virality, and that’s exactly what we do.” Today, Trifid Media operates as a global network of more than 250 professionals, producing hundreds of videos daily and managing creators across multiple regions. Now at 30, Mahdi Al Shafiei stands at the forefront of a global creative empire, yet his definition of success remains deeply personal. It is measured not by numbers alone, but by the lives he has impacted and the young professionals he chose to believe in before anyone else did. “I’m not racing toward a finish line, I’m savoring the journey.” That quiet conviction, born from rejection and fueled by vision, continues to shape everything that lies ahead.

Stitching Identity How Emirati Women Designers Are Redefining Modern Luxury By Eman Sultan Stitch by stitch, a new generation of Emirati women designers is reshaping the language of luxury. Rooted in heritage yet confidently global, their work reflects a powerful dialogue between tradition and modernity, modesty and innovation, individuality and collective memory. Across the Emirates, fashion is no longer merely an aesthetic pursuit; it has become a cultural statement, a narrative form, and a declaration of identity. From fluid abayas reimagined with architectural precision to minimalist silhouettes informed by Scandinavian restraint and Japanese philosophy, Emirati women designers are carving out a distinct space on the international fashion stage. Their creations honour the past while speaking fluently to the present, transforming fabric into stories that resonate far beyond the region. Over the past decade, the UAE’s fashion ecosystem has undergone a remarkable evolution. Emirati women have emerged as influential voices in both luxury and modest fashion, seamlessly merging ancestral roots with cosmopolitan sensibilities. Their collections are positioning the Emirates as a rising hub of fashion excellence, where authenticity and innovation coexist. As one designer aptly puts it, fashion is not about following directions, but about translating emotion into form. This new wave of designers does more than create clothing. They craft meaning. Through daring prints, inventive silhouettes, essential classics, and majestic gowns, they articulate a vision of contemporary Emirati womanhood that is confident, thoughtful, and deeply expressive. Each piece stands as a testament to artistic skill, cultural pride, and the dynamic transformation of fashion in the Emirates. Azzalia Quiet Confidence, Reimagined Born and raised in Dubai, Sheikha Amal Al Maktoum grew up at the intersection of tradition and modernity. Surrounded by the understated elegance of Emirati heritage and inspired by the ever-evolving global fashion landscape, she developed an early understanding of balance: where strength meets delicacy, and respect for the past fuels bold reinvention. The name Azzalia carries intimate meaning, inspired by the names of her daughters and infused with notions of familial love, continuity, and grace. For Amal, the brand is a living legacy, one she hopes every woman who wears Azzalia will embody. With a background in business and design management, she approaches fashion with equal parts creativity and strategy, recognising clothing as both an artistic and cultural medium. Founded in 2015, Azzalia was born from a desire to redefine modern Arab luxury. Amal observed how women in the region used fashion to express identity and empowerment, and she saw an opportunity to elevate modest fashion beyond convention. Each collection begins with a story, blending fluid abayas and capes with precise tailoring, soft organza with architectural lines, and timeless craftsmanship with forward-thinking sustainability. Ethical practice is central to the brand’s ethos. Responsibly sourced fabrics, limited production runs, and collaboration with local artisans ensure that each garment carries intention and integrity. Azzalia has grown into more than a label; it is a platform for empowerment, offering versatile, luxurious pieces that celebrate individuality while remaining deeply rooted in cultural identity. Featured in leading regional publications and showcased at fashion weeks across the Middle East, Azzalia has become a creative movement. As Amal herself reflects, she does not simply design garments; she crafts stories that women can wear, rooted in heritage and shaped for the future. Madiyah Al Sharqi Elegance Beyond Time Raised in the tranquil landscapes of Fujairah, Sheikha Madiyah Al Sharqi’s aesthetic was shaped by the poetic contrast between ancestral palaces and modern architecture. Filigree windows, saffron dunes glowing at dawn, and the quiet majesty of her surroundings left an indelible mark on her creative vision, one that balances tradition with contemporary refinement. Her formal fashion journey began at ESMOD Paris, where she immersed herself in couture discipline and atelier craftsmanship. While Paris taught her precision and structure, her inspiration always remained rooted in home. In 2012, she returned to the UAE to launch her namesake label, initially focusing on bespoke pieces before expanding into ready-to-wear collections. Craftsmanship sits at the heart of Madiyah’s work. Delicate embroidery, featherwork, and hand-pleating define her designs, each piece reflecting hours of meticulous refinement. Her aesthetic is unmistakably feminine, with pastel-hued silks, whisper-light chiffons, and soft organza forming fluid, romantic silhouettes. Tailoring is precise yet gentle, prioritising movement and wearability over rigidity. Madiyah’s brand celebrates timeless elegance and cultural authenticity. From ethereal bridal gowns to refined everyday pieces, her collections tell stories of understated luxury and modern femininity. Proudly bearing the “Made in the UAE” label, she collaborates closely with local artisans and ateliers, ensuring that each garment carries the spirit of place. For Madiyah, true elegance transcends trends; it is a spirit that endures beyond seasons. Twisted Roots Where Utility Meets Poetry Latifa Al Gurg’s life has always been a conversation between cultures. Raised between Copenhagen and Dubai, with an Emirati father and Danish mother, she grew up immersed in Scandinavian minimalism and Middle Eastern tradition. This duality became the foundation of her design philosophy, weaving two worlds into a singular, purposeful vision. Her path to fashion was unconventional. With a degree in electrical engineering and a career in tech consulting, Latifa developed a deep appreciation for structure, function, and problem-solving. It was during her work on construction sites that she confronted a practical challenge: the lack of clothing that was both modest and functional. This experience sparked the idea behind Twisted Roots, launched in 2014. Approaching fashion as an engineered system, Latifa designs garments where form follows function and every seam serves a purpose. Twisted Roots merges minimal Scandinavian aesthetics with the expressive fluidity of Middle Eastern dress, creating pieces that are versatile, comfortable, and elegant. Her collections are designed to transition seamlessly across professional, social, and spiritual settings. Adaptability lies at the core of the brand’s philosophy. Modesty, for Latifa, is not a limitation but a form of freedom. Ethical production, small-batch manufacturing, and sustainable sourcing further reinforce the brand’s intentional approach. Twisted Roots is more than clothing; it is a cultural map, stitched with purpose and worn with confidence.