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
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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
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The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Pari
Produced by: Clean Slate Films (Anushka Sharma, Karnesh Sharma) & KriArj Entertainment
Director: Prosit Roy
Starring: Anushka Sharma, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ritabhari Chakraborty, Rajat Kapoor, Mansi Multani
Three stars
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
The Vines - In Miracle Land
Two stars
Abu Dhabi race card
5pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,400m
6pm: Liwa Oasis (PA) Group 2 | Dh300,000 | 1,400m
6.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-2 (PA) Group 3 | Dh300,000 | 2,200m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap | Dh70,000 | 1,600m
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) | Dh80,000 | 2,200m
CHELSEA SQUAD
Arrizabalaga, Bettinelli, Rudiger, Christensen, Silva, Chalobah, Sarr, Azpilicueta, James, Kenedy, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Pulisic, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Werner, Havertz, Lukaku.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
EXPATS
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The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm
Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km
The bio
Favourite food: Japanese
Favourite car: Lamborghini
Favourite hobby: Football
Favourite quote: If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough
Favourite country: UAE
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Ashes 2019 schedule
August 1-5: First Test, Edgbaston
August 14-18: Second Test, Lord's
August 22-26: Third Test, Headingley
September 4-8: Fourth Test, Old Trafford
September 12-16: Fifth Test, Oval
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Company info
Company name: Entrupy
Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist
Based: New York, New York
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Notable salonnières of the Middle East through history
Al Khasan (Okaz, Saudi Arabia)
Tamadir bint Amr Al Harith, known simply as Al Khasan, was a poet from Najd famed for elegies, earning great renown for the eulogy of her brothers Mu’awiyah and Sakhr, both killed in tribal wars. Although not a salonnière, this prestigious 7th century poet fostered a culture of literary criticism and could be found standing in the souq of Okaz and reciting her poetry, publicly pronouncing her views and inviting others to join in the debate on scholarship. She later converted to Islam.
Maryana Marrash (Aleppo)
A poet and writer, Marrash helped revive the tradition of the salon and was an active part of the Nadha movement, or Arab Renaissance. Born to an established family in Aleppo in Ottoman Syria in 1848, Marrash was educated at missionary schools in Aleppo and Beirut at a time when many women did not receive an education. After touring Europe, she began to host salons where writers played chess and cards, competed in the art of poetry, and discussed literature and politics. An accomplished singer and canon player, music and dancing were a part of these evenings.
Princess Nazil Fadil (Cairo)
Princess Nazil Fadil gathered religious, literary and political elite together at her Cairo palace, although she stopped short of inviting women. The princess, a niece of Khedive Ismail, believed that Egypt’s situation could only be solved through education and she donated her own property to help fund the first modern Egyptian University in Cairo.
Mayy Ziyadah (Cairo)
Ziyadah was the first to entertain both men and women at her Cairo salon, founded in 1913. The writer, poet, public speaker and critic, her writing explored language, religious identity, language, nationalism and hierarchy. Born in Nazareth, Palestine, to a Lebanese father and Palestinian mother, her salon was open to different social classes and earned comparisons with souq of where Al Khansa herself once recited.
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
'Laal Kaptaan'
Director: Navdeep Singh
Stars: Saif Ali Khan, Manav Vij, Deepak Dobriyal, Zoya Hussain
Rating: 2/5
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
