Editor’s Letter November Issue 2026: It takes a village

Fashion

I cannot express how incredibly honoured I feel to be at the helm of Emirates Woman magazine as it marks its 45th anniversary with this November issue – fittingly, the Celebration Issue. I have said it before, and I’ll say it again: the affection and devotion the women of the UAE have for this publication continue to move me. So often when I am out and about, I am stopped by women who tell me how much the magazine has meant to them, their mothers, and their grandmothers. Emirates Woman grew up alongside the young country it was representing and flourished as the women featured in our pages helped to build the nation’s story.

Speaking of stories.

One of my favourite features in this issue is an oral history that looks back on 45 years of the magazine through the voices of more than a dozen women who worked at the publication over the years. The People Who Made Us was such an eye-opening read for me, personally and professionally, and I am so deeply grateful to all the women who came before me and returned for this very special article. Truth be told, this whole issue is filled with nods to the 45th anniversary. In The Body Electric , Emirati artist Noor Al Suwaidi, who, as luck would have it, is also 45, shares her enthusiasm for pushing artistic boundaries. There is also the return of A Familiar Facein the form of Sarah Jessica Parker, who has been a cover star of Emirates Woman many times over, including for our 30th anniversary issue. And we even have the first-ever winner of the Emirates Woman – Woman of the Year Award, which itself is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. For Emirati filmmaker and director Nayla Al Khaja, winning the award was Life-Changing.

While we do spend some time looking back with this issue, we most definitely balance it by celebrating the future of the UAE, particularly when it comes to the art world. This is embodied by our talented and beautiful cover star Zaina Deesi. In The Art of Becoming, the Emirati artist with Palestinian heritage talks about why the UAE means so much to her, and her art. We asked six artists, curators, and designers working across the UAE about the Kindred Spirits whose artwork has stayed with them. And the openers of each section nod to the impressive artistic events taking place across the UAE this month, from Dubai Design Week and NOMAD Abu Dhabi to Frieze Abu Dhabi and Alserkal Art Week, highlighting the artists that caught our eye. For me, this issue is a love letter to the past of Emirates Woman and a glimpse into its future. A future filled with art, stories, and images that will linger in the mind for generations to come. Enjoy the issue.