Mona Abdul Karim, an Emirate born in Denmark, began her career in fashion design at an early age. By the time she reached High School, Mona would sketch her own ready-to-wear designs. Being attracted to the simplicity yet sophisticated touches that she would see on women wearing abayas, Mona was instantly inspired to become an abaya designer and developed her passion for fashion by first designing garments for family and friends, who found her designs very attractive and encouraged Mona to expand her talent even further.
 
After majoring in management and graduating from university with a Bachelors in Business Administration, Mona decided to merge her educational business background with her talent in fashion design to create the very popular emerging brand, Gulf Princess. “My esthetic in designing abayas is classy, classic timeless pieces that are modernized and give a perfect contrast to the woman of today’s style and personality. I believe that when dressing, it is important to reflect your personality or your feelings at that moment through the clothes you wear and colours you choose. When I design, I carefully choose the mood I want my gown to offer the person wearing it through cuts, color, fabric and prints.”
 
Since the launch to the Gulf Princess brand, Mona has been successful in gaining respect and notoriety in the fashion industry and as one of the Middle Eastern leading abaya designers. Mona, along with the Gulf Princess brand, has participated as a fashion sponsor on the Noor Dubai TV show. Her designs have been featured in the most popular magazines across the GCC such as Ahlan!, Usrati, L’officiel, Hia and newspapers such as 7days, Gulf news, Al Khaleej Times and more. She was interviewed on MBC-Sabah Alkhair Ya Arab. Mona has also exhibited in Downtown Dubai, was a selected designer to show her creations for the first Hologram show played Dubai Mall, participated in Dubai mall Fashion catwalk and also showcased her designs on The Longest catwalk in Dubai Mall. Mona won Best designer in the “I heart the art event” which took place at the American University in Dubai amongst ten other competing designers.
 
GCC women are being motivated to stand out and communicate their personality through fashion design. Although some of them maybe more discrete, we have others, like me, who feel the need to be richer in expression, and this could only be enhanced through continues support from international fashion schools bringing courses to the Middle East to help us nourish our passion for fashion. I am proud to be a part of something spectacular to come out of the UAE, and with hard work and dedication , I have already begun to reach international acknowledgement and selling in international retail outlets who have access across the globe.”