From 19–23 November 2025, Abu Dhabi Art surged across Manarat Al Saadiyat, transforming the island into a vortex of creativity, craft, and cultural dialogue. Amid the city’s electrified art scene, the Fatima Bint Mohamed Bin Zayed Initiative (FBMI) and its design brand Zuleya staged a masterful exhibition of handwoven carpets and live weaving performances – a living testament to Afghan artisanship, cross-cultural collaboration, and the transformative power of craft.
For Maywand Jabarkhyl, FBMI’s CEO, the fair was never mere fanfare or ornamentation; it is a battlefield where heritage, empowerment, and social impact converge. Around 70% of FBMI’s artisans are women – many widows working from home – whose livelihoods, vocational training, and children’s education are inextricably tied to the enterprise’s operations. At FBMI and Zuleya, craft is not nostalgia; it is strategy, agency, and cultural diplomacy fused into one.
Even as the crowds dissipate and the city exhales after the whirlwind of the fair, Maywand tells MOJEH MEN that he is already moving beyond the pageantry, toward the underlying architecture of community, artistry, and economic empowerment that FBMI has painstakingly built over fifteen years.
When asked how FBMI interprets “community” – the official theme of Abu Dhabi Art 2025 – Maywand doesn’t offer a sentimental definition. He offers a system:
“For us, community is the ecosystem that empowers people to thrive socially, creatively, and economically. It’s our operational heartbeat. At FBMI, this translates into building a value chain where Afghan artisans and global audiences advance together. With Zuleya, that means creating direct income pathways for artisans, championing meaningful collaborations with designers, and delivering culturally grounded experiences for clients. Every stakeholder contributes, and every contribution drives shared uplift.”
It’s a community measured not in slogans, but in incomes, opportunity, and dignity.
“Authenticity is our core value proposition. We preserve heritage by protecting the full lineage of Afghan craft – hand-spun wool, natural dyes, traditional knotting – while layering in contemporary design sensibilities, quality systems, and luxury benchmarks. We don’t modernize the craft; we modernize the platform that delivers it.”
Women at the Centre of the Value Chain
FBMI’s workforce is overwhelmingly female. Maywand recalls one artisan whose story illustrates the enterprise’s impact:
“One of our artisans, Mariam, joined with no formal training and very limited opportunities. Through our vocational training, she became a highly skilled weaver and now leads a collective of women in her community. Her income supports her children’s education, home improvements, and overall family stability. Her journey reflects the core outcome we aim for: dignity, resilience, and generational impact.”
Mariam’s trajectory exemplifies FBMI’s philosophy: empowerment as infrastructure.
Maywand frames art as a diplomatic instrument:
“Art is one of the most effective diplomatic tools – silent, emotional, and universal. When Afghan craftsmanship is showcased in places like the UAE, it sparks dialogue and humanizes narratives that are often misunderstood. Our work becomes a cultural handshake, connecting communities through creativity rather than commentary.”
Heritage becomes diplomacy, woven rather than spoken.
When Artists and Artisans Share the Same Sentence
At Abu Dhabi Art 2025, FBMI exhibited works by Abdul Qader Al Rais, Christopher Joshua Benton, and Khalifa Ahmed alongside Zuleya carpets. Maywand elaborates:
“Each artist interprets history and identity through a different contemporary lens. Pairing their work with Zuleya carpets creates a richer, more dynamic conversation about craftsmanship, memory, and innovation. It positions heritage not as something static – but as a living, evolving discipline.”
The live Majlis performance – Emirati and Afghan weavers working in tandem – became one of the week’s defining moments:
“We want audiences to experience the shared heartbeat of craft. Whether the hands are Emirati or Afghan, the rhythm, patience, and artistry speak the same language. The performance showcases how heritage can become a bridge between cultures, reinforcing unity through creation.”
Collaboration transforms into choreography; craft becomes shared rhythm.
Desert, Reimagined
Zuleya’s Abundant Landscape reinterprets the desert from above. Maywand contextualizes the work:
“The desert teaches resilience, interdependence, and quiet strength. Viewed from above, its patterns show how environments evolve through pressure and time – much like communities do. ‘Abundant Landscape’ captures that spirit of endurance and unity, transforming a harsh landscape into a symbol of collective possibility.”
FBMI measures success in human terms:
“Our success metrics center on improved lives: women employed, artisans trained, families receiving healthcare, and children accessing education. Financial stability is just the engine – real success is the ripple effect of stronger, healthier, and more empowered communities.”
Maywand explains FBMI’s decentralized model:
“We run a decentralized production model where women can work safely from home, supported by local field teams who manage quality and coordination. We operate with flexibility, strong community partnerships, and safety-first protocols. The well-being of our artisans dictates our pace, priorities, and processes.”
Young creatives access craft archives and master artisans, ensuring heritage is never static:
“We give emerging talent access to our craft archives, our master artisans, and our production ecosystems. This creates a platform where young creatives can innovate responsibly – reinterpreting heritage with fresh lenses while staying connected to the craft’s cultural DNA. Our work with artists like Khalifa Ahmed and Christopher Joshua Benton showcases that balance.”
A Mission That Travels
FBMI’s expansion into Tanzania exemplifies its replicable blueprint:
“We’re broadening our footprint through curated global exhibitions, strategic retail partnerships, and cross-cultural collaborations – always tied back to job creation and community uplift. Our recent expansion in Tanzania reflects this blueprint. We’re supporting women farmers in cashew farm & cultivation, improving access to health and education, and championing their produce through our new social enterprise, Hunger. It’s the same mission, activated in a new geography with measurable impact.”
It’s not empire-building; it’s networked empowerment.
“We’re preparing to launch a new Zuleya facility in Abu Dhabi – a space where Afghan weavers and Emirati artisans will collaborate under one roof, building a new creative hub for cultural heritage. This, alongside a major global collaboration we’re about to announce, will set the stage for a new chapter of innovation, craftsmanship, and community growth. More to come soon.”
Collaboration, not expansion, defines the next chapter.
