The Intimate Story Behind Rima Zahran’s Newest Jewellery Drop | Vogue Arabia

Rima Zahran never did well in school—or so she told me when we first met at her recently opened jewellery boutique. The space, in the process of minor refurbishments, is contemporary and cosy.

“I couldn’t focus. Instead, I would make sketches of jewellery I really wanted to own in my notebook,” the founder of RZ by Rima Zahran tells Vogue Arabia, as she sips her coffee, wrist sparkling with her latest bracelet pieces. “When I was living in Spain, I would always watch American TV shows and noticed that all the ‘cool’ girls often wore heart-shaped jewellery.”

Photo: Rima Zahran

At 15 years old, after moving to the UAE from Marbella, the designer took that sketch to the gold souk. There, she created her first piece—a heart charm bracelet—and that early design continues to influence her work today. “It’s been with me ever since—through engagement and marriage, childbirth, and now business-ownership,” she adds.

Her boutique, located in Dubai Design District, is meant to be inviting. Officially opened in January, Zahran opted for a clean, welcoming space where the jewellery takes centre stage. This, she explains, was intentional.

Resilience Bracelet

Resilience Bracelet

“This project is deeply personal, and in my opinion, buying jewellery is an intimate thing. So, it was very important for me to make sure customers had a comfortable experience,” she recounts passionately.

Open by appointment only, the boutique offers a private and personalised shopping experience. The collection includes a range of pieces—from simple gold rings to bold diamond bracelets—all designed with a focus on detail and versatility.

Zahran started her eponymous jewellery brand in December 2021, nurtured by a lifelong passion for fashion and design. “I had earned some money from my social media and thought, ‘Why not invest it in a business?’” she says. “I started with just 25 pieces and they sold out almost instantly.”

Her collections, including the "Un-Lock-It" series, are shaped by themes of freedom, identity, and self-expression. The collections are also deeply personal to Zahran.

At the core of her work—and her true inspiration—are her grandmother’s influence and their shared Palestinian heritage. The social media personality and business owner reflects on her childhood memories of her grandmother’s jewellery box, filled with heirloom pieces that carried stories of resilience, love, and identity. It was those early experiences that sparked her fascination with jewellery as a form of storytelling and inspired her to create a brand rooted in personal and cultural narratives.

"Palestinians keep their valuables close because they’ve lost everything—selling jewellery when needed to survive,” she says. “My grandmother always wore a stack of bracelets and the most beautiful pieces. She was always so well-presented and I admired her for it. Just chic and effortless.”

Her latest launch, the "Resilience Bracelet," honours that legacy. Released in time for Mother’s Day, the bracelet is crafted from 18K yellow gold and set with 15 ethically sourced diamonds. It’s a smaller, more delicate version of her original "Un-Lock-It" design. For Zahran, the piece symbolises the quiet strength of the women who raised her and the enduring spirit of the Palestinian people.

"When I was younger, I wanted the 'American' bracelet because I thought it was cool,” she says. “But now, I want to create and wear pieces that reflect my own culture—that’s why I incorporated arabesque patterns into my designs. It comes from a sense of pride.”