As the destruction of Gaza continues, supporting Palestinian livelihoods has become a critical act of solidarity. While many have decided to donate to charity, others help local brands stay afloat amid the crisis.
There are countless Palestinian artisans in Gaza and the West Bank who handmake beautiful products. Dozens of stores sell these wares, with funds going directly back to their makers.
Here are 20 brands to know with online stores and worldwide shipping.
1. Jihad Sabbah Jewellery
Jihad Sabbah, an oud player who lives in Jerusalem, started out by making his own instruments. But in 2016, he began incorporating mother of pearl to create more decorative designs, which sparked an interest in jewellery making, leading to the creation of his workshop and online store.
Much of the collection speaks directly to his cultural roots, and continues to use mother of pearl alongside gemstones, silver, gold, copper, and brass in his creations. These include necklaces with Palestine-shaped pendants hanging from chains and rings incorporating Arabic calligraphy and quotes by the late politician and poet Tawfiq Zayyad.
jsjewelry.shop
2. Hirbawi
Since 1961, Yasser Hirbawi's factory in Hebron has been producing original keffiyehs. After decades of occupation, checkpoints and roadblocks alongside globalisation and fast fashion, his output was slowed from 15 machines producing 150,000 keffiyehs in the 1990s to only four machines making 5,000 of the scarfs annually two decades later.
But in 2012, Hirbawi teamed up with Made In Palestine in Germany to launch a website helping to sell original Palestinian keffiyehs to customers all around the world. Today, shoppers can head to the site make a purchase and show their support. Keffiyehs are available in a range of colours alongside the classic black-and-white design.
kufiya.org
3. Darzah
Located in Palestine, Darzah (which translates to stitch) is a non-profit lifestyle brand that creates fashion goods and household items, weaving local heritage into each product. There are shoes, hair accessories, bookmarks, tote bags, bed sheets and more, embroidered with traditional tatreez motif. Each item is handmade by women living in the West Bank.
To further its work in preserving the Palestinian tatreez, Darzah has also created an online database to upload and search different designs, and invites people to get in touch to create a custom design.
darzah.org
4. Zawyeh Gallery and Store
Ziad Anani first opened the Zawyeh Gallery in Ramallah, Palestine, in 2013, later opening a second location in Dubai's Alserkal Avenue in 2020. From the get-go, Anani's ethos has been to shine a light on Palestinian artists, bringing modern art from the country to an international audience.
Online at the Zawyeh Store, many prints, photos and posters are available to buy with international shipping, such as a canvas art print of Jerusalem Cityscape by Hosni Radwan and The Kiss Palestine by Sinae Kim from the Posters for Gaza collection.
Proceeds from sales also support medical aid for children in Gaza via The Palestine Red Crescent Society.
zawyeh.store
5. Taita Leila
The name of this social enterprise is an amalgamation of a colloquial Arabic term for grandmother used across the Levant (taita), and Leila Hussein Fakhri Khalidi, author of The Art of Palestinian Embroidery.
Taita Leila sells modern clothing inspired by the tradition of Palestinian embroidery, or tatreez, reinterpreting the techniques “in a way that would make your grandmother proud”.
The clothes are handmade in Palestine by women in the West Bank, and can be delivered anywhere in the world.
The brand is also supporting displaced Palestinian women in Egypt, working with Kenar Embroidery, a once flourishing business in Gaza that was lost during this genocide, and Asma Thabet, an artist originally from Gaza.
taitaleila.com
6. Nol Collective
An intersectional feminist and political fashion collective, Nol manufactures apparel and accessories with small family-run businesses and women’s co-operatives in the West Bank and Gaza. Products range from jewellery and clothing to accessories and even handmade soap.
The online store sells pieces from a range of Palestinian brands, including clothing line Hind Hilal, jeweller Mai Zarkawi and Straps by Sarab, a line of yoga mat straps sporting traditional motifs and handmade by women from Al Amari Refugee Camp Centre.
“The production process is designed to help revive the local textile industry, supporting local artisans,” reads a statement on its website. “These garments represent to us the transcendence of the creative process and of the collective over physically imposed borders, signifying an act of defiance in and of itself.”
nolcollective.com
7. Dar Noora
Designer Noora Khalifeh reinterprets traditional tatreez in a modern way, with women across Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem carrying out the needlework.
The clothing and accessories are elegant and feminine, with items such as thobes, abayas, kaftans, skirts, dresses and jackets all available to buy online. Queen Rania has been spotted wearing one of Khalifeh's pieces.
Check out the Sunbird collection, which includes clutches and scarves. Khalifeh chose the sunbird as a symbol of freedom, “spreading his wings in his skies of Palestine”.
darnoora.com
8. Holy Land Boutique
This online store sells pieces from various designers all based in Palestine. Buy a beautiful coaster, for example, handmade by Shireen Salman, who was born in Jerusalem in 1986, and whose great-grandfather was a jeweller and her father owns an antique shop. She also makes postcards and cloth posters.
You’ll find everything from blazers to belts and tote bags on the store, too.
“At Holy Land Boutique, we aim to liberate art and free it from the shackles of restrictions and social pressures,” reads a message on its website.
holylandboutique.com
9. Sunbula
Carol Morton, the wife of a reverend from St Andrews Scottish Church in Jerusalem, founded a modest craft shop in 1988, which grew to become Sunbula in 1996. It’s a non-profit fair trade organisation that supports marginalised women and communities in the West Bank, Gaza and other Palestinian communities within Israel through the selling of artisanal crafts.
Morton aims to promote Palestinian women’s rights and economic empowerment by providing their handicrafts.
The online store sells everything from clothing and homeware to accessories to children’s toys. It also has a section dedicated to face masks.
sunbula.org
10. El Bustan
El Bustan, which means “the garden” in Arabic, is headquartered in London, but works with artisans, women’s co-operatives, entrepreneurs and factories in and from Palestine, to bring their creations to an international audience, as it offers delivery across the world.
You’ll find home and lifestyle items galore on the online store, with everything from calligraphic artwork to dainty jewellery and contemporary clothing to handcrafted kitchen utensils, even books.
The website includes a wealth of information about the products and their talented designers.
elbustan.com
11. Fyrouzi
This online store, which is headquartered in the UAE, focuses on the centuries-old ceramic industry in Palestine. Palestinian pottery is known for its intricate details and Arabesque patterns, and each ceramic work goes through a week-long process during which it’s shaped, dried, cleaned, smoothed and fired, before the artists paint and glaze.
Fyrouzi, which means turquoise in Arabic, provides handmade pieces from Palestine, from bowls to lanterns and coffee sets to ashtrays, with shipping across the UAE within two to three days.
fyrouzi.com
12. Hilweh Market
You’ll find purses and plates, bowls and blouses, cushions and calligraphy coasters at this artisanal boutique featuring items from Palestine and the Arab world.
“Through sustainable local partnerships with designers, makers and craftsmen and women, we help shed light on forgotten stories through beautiful objects while supporting their powerful and creative practices,” reads a statement on the website.
hilwehmarket.com
13. Ajdadi Collective
Founded by Dubai resident Zak Jarallah in 2021, this brand combines streetwear with the time-honoured Palestinian embroidery style tatreez. Collaborating with female artisans in Palestine, it is also a social enterprise, given the women a financial lifeline, as well as the opportunity to keep the centuries-old craft alive.
“In Arabic, ajdadi means ancestors. The premise of the brand is to celebrate our forefathers,” Jarallah told The National. “While Ajdadi is my story, it's also common to so many other Palestinians. So the full name reflects a collective of us coming together and celebrating our unity and identity.”
instagram.com/ajdadi.collective
14. PaliRoots
An apparel brand, PaliRoots was founded in 2016 with the purpose of spreading awareness about Palestinian culture through clothes. All the products are hand-sewn and each is inspected by an independent agency to ensure top quality.
“With the brand, we explore, celebrate and share Palestinian culture in a modern and positive way,” reads a message on its website.
paliroots.com
15. Nine Seven Zero Rising
Named after the country dialling code of Palestine, this apparel brand's thoughtfully designed apparel and accessories incorporate traditional motifs, colours and symbols that reflect Palestinian identity.
“Our mission is to provide individuals with a platform to wear their support for Palestine proudly and expressively,” the brand says.
970rising.com
16. Watan
An art studio founded in Chicago in 2015 and dedicated to exploring Palestinian heritage and identity, Watan has storefronts in the US, as well as Amman, Jordan. Its online platform, which is also a store, is meant to be a “visual encyclopaedia” about Palestine, selling everything from art and fashion to books and homeware.
Watan also hosts workshops, lectures and events at its locations and aims to be “an additional space for Palestinians to learn about and explore their cultural and intellectual heritage”.
watanpalestine.com
17. Canaan Palestine
From the birthplace of olive oil comes Canaan Palestine, which works with more than 2,400 artisan family farms spanning more than 50 villages. The company employs fair trade principles ensuring full direct payment, fair prices and purchase guarantee to the farmers who produce the oil.
Besides olive oil, the company sells zaa'tar, wheat and maftoul or Palestinian couscous among other items.
canaanpalestine.com
18. Trashy Clothing
Describing itself as “anti-luxury”, this edgy Jerusalem brand was founded by co-creative directors Omar Braika and Shukri Lawrence. Known for their irreverent take on fashion, as well as their activism, they say their goal is “to address difficult political circumstances by conveying design statements of anticolonial resistance and joyful artistic militancy”.
Bella Hadid is a fan, having been spotted in the brand's “Free Palestine” T-shirts, while other celebrity patrons include Elyanna, Bassem Youssef and Saint Levant.
trashyclothing.shop
19. Peace Pieces Jewelry
Based in Ramallah, and founded by Salam Bayatneh in 2017, Peace Pieces celebrates individuality with its delicate and elegant collections. It offers rings, necklaces and bracelets, plus birthstones and charms, and can customise pieces.
“I believe every piece tells a story, and every woman deserves one that speaks to her soul,” says Bayatneh.
peacepiecesjewelry.co
20. Balady Stitch
Handmade and hand-embroidered in Gaza, Ohio-based Balady Stitch works with women across Palestine, with each of the items named after the woman who worked on or inspired it. Founded by designer Afnan, who also designs some of the items, the brand sells everything from headbands to tote bags.
instagram.com/baladystitch
A version of this story was first published on October 7, 2024
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Profile
Company: Libra Project
Based: Masdar City, ADGM, London and Delaware
Launch year: 2017
Size: A team of 12 with six employed full-time
Sector: Renewable energy
Funding: $500,000 in Series A funding from family and friends in 2018. A Series B round looking to raise $1.5m is now live.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Fight card
1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)
4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)
5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)
6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)
9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)
10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)
11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
Name: Colm McLoughlin
Country: Galway, Ireland
Job: Executive vice chairman and chief executive of Dubai Duty Free
Favourite golf course: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
Favourite part of Dubai: Palm Jumeirah
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
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
Profile of Bitex UAE
Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
UAE rugby in numbers
5 - Year sponsorship deal between Hesco and Jebel Ali Dragons
700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams
Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams
Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season
Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season
Federer's 11 Wimbledon finals
2003 Beat Mark Philippoussis
2004 Beat Andy Roddick
2005 Beat Andy Roddick
2006 Beat Rafael Nadal
2007 Beat Rafael Nadal
2008 Lost to Rafael Nadal
2009 Beat Andy Roddick
2012 Beat Andy Murray
2014 Lost to Novak Djokovic
2015 Lost to Novak Djokovic
2017 Beat Marin Cilic
WWE TLC results
Asuka won the SmackDown Women's title in a TLC triple threat with Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair
Dean Ambrose won the Intercontinental title against Seth Rollins
Daniel Bryan retained the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against AJ Styles
Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women's Championship against Nia Jax
Rey Mysterio beat Randy Orton in a chairs match
Finn Balor defeated Drew McIntyre
Natalya beat Ruby Riott in a tables match
Braun Strowman beat Baron Corbin in a TLC match
Sheamus and Cesaro retained the SmackDown Tag Titles against The Usos and New Day
R-Truth and Carmella won the Mixed Match Challenge by beating Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox
England squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Ben White
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Mason Mount, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse
Forwards: Tammy Abraham, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Raheem Sterling
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
Gender equality in the workplace still 200 years away
It will take centuries to achieve gender parity in workplaces around the globe, according to a December report from the World Economic Forum.
The WEF study said there had been some improvements in wage equality in 2018 compared to 2017, when the global gender gap widened for the first time in a decade.
But it warned that these were offset by declining representation of women in politics, coupled with greater inequality in their access to health and education.
At current rates, the global gender gap across a range of areas will not close for another 108 years, while it is expected to take 202 years to close the workplace gap, WEF found.
The Geneva-based organisation's annual report tracked disparities between the sexes in 149 countries across four areas: education, health, economic opportunity and political empowerment.
After years of advances in education, health and political representation, women registered setbacks in all three areas this year, WEF said.
Only in the area of economic opportunity did the gender gap narrow somewhat, although there is not much to celebrate, with the global wage gap narrowing to nearly 51 per cent.
And the number of women in leadership roles has risen to 34 per cent globally, WEF said.
At the same time, the report showed there are now proportionately fewer women than men participating in the workforce, suggesting that automation is having a disproportionate impact on jobs traditionally performed by women.
And women are significantly under-represented in growing areas of employment that require science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills, WEF said.
* Agence France Presse
More on Quran memorisation:
The specs: 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
Price, base: Dh399,999
Engine: Supercharged 6.2-litre V8
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 707hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 875Nm @ 4,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 16.8L / 100km (estimate)
