Fatma Al Mosa chose everything in her recently established abaya-couture shop meticulously – from the materials to the shop name, Folak.
“I was dying to open my boutique on Friday, February 14, at four o’clock in the evening,” she explains. “Do you notice the repetition of the letter F? My name starts with F and the shop’s name starts with F too.”
Al Mosa, who graduated from Zayed University and works in the public sector, designs the shop’s abayas herself. It’s located close to Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street in Abu Dhabi, and uses fabrics imported from Saudi Arabia.
Al Mosa’s own abayas always stood out. Before opening Folak, she brought abayas from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia for the quality and flawless fabric. “Abayas sold here never matched my taste,” she says.
Under the slogan “Dress to Impress”, her mission is to make every wearer feel special and reflect her personality. The designs are all limited edition: she makes just 10 copies of each abaya.
When she started Folak, she only had 10 abaya designs, but now there are 32. Prices start from Dh800.
Al Mosa is a fan of linen, which gives a statement of professionalism and elegance to the wearer, she says. “Linen is practical and long-lasting. The more you wash them, the smoother it gets. It also gives you protection from hot sun in summer.”
The shape and cuts of the abayas at Folak are created by a dedicated “master cutter”. Each abaya in the display has its own cut and shape. All of Al Mosa’s designs are contemporary
“Expensive abayas are scattered in many malls,” she says, “but not all of them reach customer satisfaction. Quality rather than quantity – that’s my target.”
To see the shop's latest designs, visit www.folak.ae.
Why did you choose the name Folak?
Folak means “sequins”. Many Emirati entrepreneurs choose foreign names for their shops. I wanted the name to have an Arabic touch to it. Also, in the future, I might be expanding to more than abayas. I don’t want to restrict myself to one category.
Are you proud of your team?
It takes good leadership to build a great team. You can’t succeed in any business without having a successful management team. If my employees are not happy, their unhappiness will show in their productivity and on the outcome of abayas, too.
Favourite place to relax and think about new abaya collections?
The One. Even though it’s a furniture shop, the ambience is peaceful. Free Wi-Fi and the molten chocolate cake are sufficient to help me brainstorm and be productive.
Favourite fabric?
Linen, without a doubt.
Favourite colour to beautify your designs?
I like beige, grey, silver and navy blue.
When it comes to your business, what is your long-term goal?
Love for my customers what I love for myself. I like to look elegant in my tasteful attire – I wish the same for my customers.
How important is it to dress well?
When you dress modestly and nicely, you show respect to yourself first. Then most people around you have no choice but to respect you for respecting yourself.
What are your plans for the future?
I am participating in the Sweet Look exhibition in Al Ain. I am also part of Chic Lady exhibition taking place in September in Abu Dhabi.
What advice do you have for anybody who is considering starting a business?
Just do it. Once you take the first step, the rest will flow.
Who is your favourite fashion designer?
Christian Dior – I am so Dior. I also like Carolina Herrera.
aalhameli@thenational.ae
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
FINAL RESULT
Sharjah Wanderers 20 Dubai Tigers 25 (After extra-time)
Wanderers
Tries: Gormley, Penalty
cons: Flaherty
Pens: Flaherty 2
Tigers
Tries: O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
Cons: Caldwell 2
Pens: Caldwell, Cross
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The%20specs%20
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Mountain%20Boy
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GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
FIGHT CARD
1. Featherweight 66kg
Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)
2. Lightweight 70kg
Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)
3. Welterweight 77kg
Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)
4. Lightweight 70kg
Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)
5. Featherweight 66kg
Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)
6. Catchweight 85kg
Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)
7. Featherweight 66kg
Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)
8. Catchweight 73kg
Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Abdipatta Abdizhali (KGZ)
9. Featherweight 66kg
Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)
10. Catchweight 90kg
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
