Baby dinner sets adorned with Arabic alphabets, keepsake dolls wearing kufis and hijabs, personalised toys and Islam-inspired decor – these are some of the products offered by UK-based start-up Once Upon a Dua.
The Islamic lifestyle brand targets a specific niche of customers and founders Jayda and Ash Zaman are now bringing it to UAE consumers. The concept, which combines Scandinavian-influenced design with elements inspired by faith and culture, was founded in 2022 after the Zamans realised there was a gap in the market for toys that were faith-forward.
“As parents, we were always searching for toys, gifts and keepsakes that reflected our faith, in a meaningful, beautiful, and safe way … But the Muslim lifestyle sector, especially for children, felt either outdated or disconnected from the quality and aesthetics we were drawn to,” says Jayda Zaman, chief executive of the company.
Currently based in London, the family is looking at the possibility of moving their business operations to Dubai. The UAE and Gulf value faith, heritage, beautiful aesthetics, and high-end quality – all of which aligns with the brand, says the founder.
Plus, the growing support for homegrown, Muslim-owned and ethical businesses makes it a perfect fit, Ms Zaman explains. The company's products are already available in UAE stores, including MomStore, Mumzworld, FirstCry and Babyshop.
“We have received multiple offers of financial investments from angel investors in return for company share or equity, but we turned those down as we felt it was far too early in our growth plan. We know who we are and what we stand for, and that clarity is sometimes harder to hold on to when outside capital gets involved,” Ms Zaman says.
The need to build a legacy came following a tragedy. Ms Zaman lost her third child in utero and the unexpected loss was crippling for the family. Several months later, a Hajj pilgrimage and another to Al Aqsa in Palestine changed the trajectory of the couple's life together.
“While sitting within the Al Aqsa compound, I remember looking around and saying to my husband, 'wouldn't it be amazing if we could do something that helps to be the means of being the answer to their prayers, the prayers of the less fortunate, the prayers of the widowed or single mother. To be the answer to their duas,” Ms Zaman recalls.
The company's name, Once Upon a Dua, aligned with their goal of building a legacy that could do good for the people and the planet. The business idea was simple – make it easy and stylish to incorporate Islam into children’s toys and essentials.
Celebrating cultural identity in toys
Ms Zaman's first creation was a keepsake doll in a hijab that she made for her daughter who wanted a doll that looked like her mother. The dolls went viral and sold out immediately, Ms Zaman says.
The company catalogue now includes baby essentials such as changing mats, dining items, including bibs, bowls and dinnerware, ride-on cars and bikes, as well as personalised toys and mats.
“Our heirloom hijabi keepsake dolls set the tone for the kind of brand we wanted to be. Our silicone-weaning sets, mountain-themed dinnerware and bamboo bowls are also popular because they blend education with spirituality in a way that’s playful and meaningful,” Ms Zaman says.
Faith-inspired designs
Once Upon a Dua's products match the increasing demand for culture and faith-forward children's products, particularly in the UAE and the wider Gulf region.
“We’re noticing that parents appreciate designs that are respectful yet contemporary, with subtle elements like modest silhouettes, Islamic art-inspired patterns or elegant embroidery,” Ruban Shanmugarajah, chief executive of Babyshop (part of the Landmark Group) tells The National. “What began as festive wear is now evolving into everyday pieces that carry cultural significance with style.”
The global Islamic clothing market is projected to reach $130.58 billion by 2033, from $81.19 billion in 2024, growing at a compound annual rate of 5.42 per cent during the forecast period, according to Business Research Insights.
The market for Islam-inspired design also extends to educational toys, books and other categories. Dubai's Maison Tini – a curated retail showroom featuring small and local businesses – sells building blocks, playhouses, dolls and figurines with Islamic themes.
Lala+Mo is another example. The American brand combines early education and Montessori-style learning elements with Muslim representation in their products. Several online retailers in the UAE also carry products by Mommy Yasmin – a brand that sells interactive and educational toys for Muslim children.
Annelouise Speakman, co-founder of the Dubai children’s fashion distributor Junior Couture, says that while they haven’t had a sharp rise in demand for explicitly faith-inspired designs, parents are becoming more intentional about dressing their children in ways that reflect their cultural heritage and values.
“There's a growing appreciation for fashion that subtly blends these elements with contemporary design – allowing children to express identity in a way that feels both modern and meaningful,” she says.
Inclusive and diverse toys
In the past decade, toy makers across the world have started incorporating inclusive and diverse product lines to better represent modern society. Examples include global brands such as Lego, with their reimagined Lego Friends launched in 2022, and Mattel, with their ever-evolving Barbie and Ken dolls.
A 2022 study conducted in Turkey showed that attitudes towards diverse groups – particularly people from a different culture or race and people with special needs – form well before children join preschool. For young children who engage in role play and learning with toys, the study concluded that it was important to introduce diverse toys so they could grow to appreciate diversity. Such toys can also help children start conversations around topics related to culture and faith.
“Our daughter still has the first hijabi doll we made; she named her Noor (meaning light). When she turned 10, she advocated for hijab at her school and became the reason the school changed their uniform policy to include the hijab as an option – something they never had in place in the 300 years the school had been standing,” Ms Zaman said.
The minimalism trend
Scandinavian-inspired design and minimalism has become a rising trend across fashion, interior design and furnishings – and now baby essentials and toys.
“The beauty of Scandinavian-inspired design is that it often creates a blank canvas for parents-to-be to accessorise and style to suit their taste,” Rosie Pritchard, sales director of UK-based brand Snuz, said. The company sells sleeping bags, cribs and bedding for children.
And it is not just the boutique brands focusing on “less is more”. Babyshop launched their in-house brand, Giggles, with a focus on clean designs and soft colour palettes.
“Parents are moving away from over-the-top styles and leaning into pieces that feel easy and timeless,” Babyshop's Mr Shanmugarajah says. “Whether it’s a newborn bodysuit or outerwear for older kids, they want clothing that fits seamlessly into a child’s life without compromising on comfort or aesthetic.”
Investment strategy
As full-time employees and parents to three children, bootstrapping the business was far from easy for the Zamans. When Ms Zaman, a mathematics teacher, went on maternity leave, her husband quit his job as IT manager and the duo bunkered down to work on the brand.
“We pulled in all our savings – including the pot we’d saved to buy our home – from day one, and with three young children and no external investment – except from friends and family – every decision felt like a gamble,” Ms Zaman says. “The expenses for any start-up, especially in the UK, were and still are a huge challenge.”
The couple invested about £80,000 (Dh400,000) to get the venture off the ground. The bulk of their capital went into product research and testing, with a focus on safety standards and regulatory compliance. They chose not to take salaries from the business and focused on reinvestment.
“We’ve lived lean, made sacrifices, and relied on our belief that the long-term impact was worth it. We’ve been able to reinvest every penny back into growth, and we’re now in a place where we can start thinking about sustainability not just for the brand, but for our family, too,” Ms Zaman says. The couple have gone back to full-time jobs, choosing to keep the family business self-funded as it grows.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
TOURNAMENT INFO
Opening fixtures:
Friday, Oct 5
8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Paktia Panthers
Saturday, Oct 6
4pm: Nangarhar Leopards v Kandahar Knights
8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Balkh Legends
Tickets
Tickets can be bought online at https://www.q-tickets.com/apl/eventlist and at the ticket office at the stadium.
TV info
The tournament will be broadcast live in the UAE on OSN Sports.
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Chatham House Rule
A mark of Chatham House’s influence 100 years on since its founding, was Moscow’s formal declaration last month that it was an “undesirable
organisation”.
The depth of knowledge and academics that it drew on
following the Ukraine invasion had broadcast Mr Putin’s chicanery.
The institute is more used to accommodating world leaders,
with Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher among those helping it provide
authoritative commentary on world events.
Chatham House was formally founded as the Royal Institute of
International Affairs following the peace conferences of World War One. Its
founder, Lionel Curtis, wanted a more scientific examination of international affairs
with a transparent exchange of information and ideas.
That arena of debate and analysis was enhanced by the “Chatham
House Rule” states that the contents of any meeting can be discussed outside Chatham
House but no mention can be made identifying individuals who commented.
This has enabled some candid exchanges on difficult subjects
allowing a greater degree of free speech from high-ranking figures.
These meetings are highly valued, so much so that
ambassadors reported them in secret diplomatic cables that – when they were
revealed in the Wikileaks reporting – were thus found to have broken the rule. However,
most speeches are held on the record.
Its research and debate has offered fresh ideas to
policymakers enabling them to more coherently address troubling issues from climate
change to health and food security.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The language of diplomacy in 1853
Treaty of Peace in Perpetuity Agreed Upon by the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast on Behalf of Themselves, Their Heirs and Successors Under the Mediation of the Resident of the Persian Gulf, 1853
(This treaty gave the region the name “Trucial States”.)
We, whose seals are hereunto affixed, Sheikh Sultan bin Suggar, Chief of Rassool-Kheimah, Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboo Dhebbee, Sheikh Saeed bin Buyte, Chief of Debay, Sheikh Hamid bin Rashed, Chief of Ejman, Sheikh Abdoola bin Rashed, Chief of Umm-ool-Keiweyn, having experienced for a series of years the benefits and advantages resulting from a maritime truce contracted amongst ourselves under the mediation of the Resident in the Persian Gulf and renewed from time to time up to the present period, and being fully impressed, therefore, with a sense of evil consequence formerly arising, from the prosecution of our feuds at sea, whereby our subjects and dependants were prevented from carrying on the pearl fishery in security, and were exposed to interruption and molestation when passing on their lawful occasions, accordingly, we, as aforesaid have determined, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, to conclude together a lasting and inviolable peace from this time forth in perpetuity.
Taken from Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925-1939: the Imperial Oasis, by Clive Leatherdale
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E6-cylinder%2C%204.8-litre%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E5-speed%20automatic%20and%20manual%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E280%20brake%20horsepower%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E451Nm%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh153%2C00%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
