10 Things You Didn't Know About Shaikh Mahra, the Dubai Princess
Sheikh Mahra, born in 1983, is the daughter of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who’s the Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Latifa bin Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. She is one of the members of the Dubai royal family that has been designated as princess by their father; her siblings are all sheikhs. The first thing people notice about Shaikh Mahra are her big hazel eyes and tan skin.
1) She is a powerful businesswoman
Born in Abu Dhabi to an Emirate father and Pakistani mother, Shaikh Mahra was educated at The British School in Muscat. She studied law and public relations at Boston University. The first female member of a ruling family to be appointed a minister in the UAE, she is now Minister for Tolerance and Social Cohesion. Married to Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan since 2013 and a mother of two young girls, she lives in Abu Dhabi with her family.
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2) She owns her own swimwear line
It's no secret that Shaikh Mahra is one of the most influential and up-and-coming fashion influencers in the world. But did you know she also owns her own swimwear line? The 18-year-old self-made mogul has been turning heads in her designs for years now, so it makes sense that she wanted to bring her swimwear line to life. She launched Shaikh Mahra Swim last year with a full set of bikinis and caftans that are designed to be trendy and fun while still offering a bit of coverage.
3) She is an artist
Mahra is a multidisciplinary artist and designer. She studied at Kingston University in London and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. Originally from Saudi Arabia, she now divides her time between New York City, London and Dubai.
She has exhibited work internationally at venues including The Saatchi Gallery (London), Art Summit (Dubai), and Storefront Gallery (New York). Her works are in public collections around the world including Alserkal Avenue in Dubai and The National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C.
Her latest project is an immersive installation for MADE in PARK LIFE which opens on September 21st, 2017.
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4) She designs jewelry and swimsuits herself
Mahra is a self-taught designer who launched her own line of jewelry and swimsuits in 2011. She started by selling her pieces on Etsy and has since expanded her business to three stores in Dubai. Her trademark style is a mix of Bohemian boho with an edge, and she often uses leather in her designs. Her swimsuits are made from recycled materials like plastic bottles, and she emphasizes environmental responsibility in all aspects of her work. She's been featured on MTV Arabia for being a fashion entrepreneur with a strong social conscience.
5) She wants to be a politician someday
She wants to be a politician someday. When asked what she wanted to be when she grows up, her answer was when I grow up, I want to be a politician.
She is also in love with music. She likes Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez.
When it comes to her favorite food, she says that she likes pizza and chocolates.
At home, you will find her playing on her iPad or watching cartoons. Her favorite cartoon is My Little Pony.
She is very active outside, off the house as well. She loves playing with dolls, climbing trees and going for bike rides with her older siblings and cousins.
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6) She once traveled to New York City by herself at age 15
Shaikh Mahra was just a teenager when she took her first solo trip to New York City. Her family was worried about how she would fare traveling alone on such a big trip for the first time, but it wasn't long before they realized that their daughter could handle herself and would be safe. I had this feeling of empowerment, she said. I am capable of doing all these things by myself.
7) She can speak two languages (Arabic & English) fluently
Shaikh Mahra is multilingual and can speak Arabic fluently. She also speaks English fluently. She has grown up among different cultures, so she is able to adapt to any society easily. She considers herself a citizen of the world and tries not to think in terms of nationality. In her free time, she enjoys reading books and magazines in both Arabic and English.
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8) Her dream career would be a politician,
growing up in a royal household as a princess, I was always surrounded by politics. As I got older and started to think about what I wanted to do with my life, I knew that there were two things that were important to me: being a politician and being an artist.
This is when my family and friends thought I had lost my mind. Not only would it be difficult for me because of my upbringing, but also because, of the fact that not many women have been successful in politics before. So there was no one to really look up to for advice or direction.
But after much research and soul-searching, I decided that this was something I really wanted to pursue and went on to study political science at university.
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9) When she travels she likes to visit places of historical significance,
Shaikh Mahra visits places of historical significance during her travels. In Morocco, she visited the palace and architecture of the ancient Moroccan civilization to experience their history first hand. In Jerusalem, she visited sites such as St. Sepulcher Church and Dome of the Rock that hold important meaning for Muslims and Christians alike. In Petra, Jordan, she visited a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is known for its rock structures and historical significance in Arabic culture.
Shaikh Mahra also traveled to Rome where she toured various landmarks such as The Colosseum and Forum Romanus which are icons in Italy's rich cultural history.
10) Even though she is famous, she doesn’t brag about it
Shaikh Mahra is a daughter of the late Shaikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, and she is the youngest sister of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. She is an Emirate princess and a member of Dubai's ruling family.
She studied law at King's College London.
She has been married to Abdulaziz bin Majid since 2004 and has four children with him. They live in Abu Dhabi, but are frequent visitors to Dubai.
Mahra was educated in London and speaks fluent English, Arabic and French.
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