Self-taught artist Hanadi Badow spent years perfecting her skills before her handcrafted creations captured the hearts of children and adults at a major exhibition in Abu Dhabi.
What started as a creative passion pursued outside working hours eventually became a full-time career for Emirati artist Hanadi Badow. She left the security of her job to create handcrafted dolls inspired by the UAE’s traditional clothing, culture and stories.
Based in Abu Dhabi and holding a diploma in graphic design, Badow previously worked at a semi-government organisation. Despite having a stable and comfortable career, her passion for designing and making dolls continued to grow, ultimately inspiring her to follow a different path.
Badow said her passion for dollmaking had already taken shape while she was still employed. As the craft demanded increasing amounts of time, dedication and concentration, she eventually chose to leave her job and devote herself fully to her creative work.
Although making such a major career change required courage, Badow said she remained confident about the direction she wanted to take. Her belief in her abilities, along with her faith in God, gave her the confidence to pursue her passion and build a new path for herself.
Badow said her interest in the craft began while she was still working, but its growing demands on her time and attention eventually led her to resign and pursue dollmaking full-time.
She acknowledged that taking the first step required courage, but said she was clear about the path she wanted to follow. Confidence in her own abilities, combined with her faith in God, helped her embrace the career change without fear.
Six years of mastering the craft
Badow developed her dollmaking skills independently, learning through online videos, studying different designs and continuously experimenting with her own methods. After nearly six years in the craft, she is now entering her seventh year.
Creating each doll is a detailed and time-intensive process, often requiring four to five days of continuous work. Badow breaks the process into several stages, from shaping the doll’s body and creating its clothing to painting facial features, adding hair and completing the accessories.
She said the process initially took considerably longer, but experience helped her organise the work more efficiently by dedicating specific periods to each stage of production.
The finished pieces are far from conventional mass-produced toys. Each doll is individually handcrafted as a distinctive character, with its clothing, appearance and details reflecting elements of Emirati culture and identity.
A debut collection of 14 dolls
After developing her first designs, Badow launched an Instagram account to showcase her creations to a broader audience. With support from a friend who assisted with photography and promotion, she professionally introduced her first collection of around 14 handcrafted dolls.
The response exceeded her expectations, with customer orders arriving soon after the collection was unveiled.
Buyers can personalise certain details, including outfits, colours and hairstyles, while Badow preserves the signature appearance and cultural identity that distinguish her work. Every doll is also given a name and comes with its own miniature passport. For personalised orders, parents can request a child’s name, while Badow chooses the names of dolls created for exhibitions.
Over the years, her work has taken her to events across the UAE as well as exhibitions and cultural programmes overseas. However, her participation in the 2026 Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition brought her creations a new level of public attention.
From a modest exhibition space to viral recognition
Badow initially hoped to have her own booth at the exhibition but was unable to secure one. She was later offered a place in a small shared gallery by another participating artist, giving her an opportunity to display her work.
She attended with the simple aim of introducing more visitors to her handcrafted dolls. The response, however, went far beyond her expectations. Videos featuring the creations quickly circulated on social media, attracting growing interest and bringing crowds to the display.
Badow said the overwhelming reaction was difficult to put into words. Seeing visitors appreciate her talent, record her creations and share them online helped introduce her work to a much larger audience.
Her latest dolls were also designed to offer a more interactive experience, particularly for children. Unlike her earlier seated creations, the newer marionette-style dolls can move and perform, with one character featuring movements inspired by traditional Emirati folk culture.
The creations proved equally popular among adults, many of whom stopped to watch, record and interact with the dolls. The enthusiastic response from visitors of all ages came as a welcome surprise to Badow.
Following the exhibition, Badow experienced a surge in interest, with her phone constantly buzzing with calls and enquiries. Government entities, nurseries, media outlets and television channels were among those who approached her, alongside requests connected to upcoming National Day celebrations.
While the growing recognition has opened new opportunities, Badow said it has also brought greater responsibility. She now feels an obligation to meet the expectations surrounding her work while continuing to develop fresh ideas and introduce something different with each new creation.
‘Emirati in every detail’
For Badow, her handcrafted dolls represent much more than decorative pieces. Through her creations, she hopes to give Emirati and Arab children characters they can connect with — dolls that reflect familiar cultural identities through their appearance, traditional clothing and distinctive details.
Badow sees her creations as a meaningful gift to Arab children, particularly young Emiratis, giving them dolls that closely reflect their own culture, traditions and identity. She emphasised that every element of her work is designed to give the dolls a distinctly Emirati character.
Looking ahead, Badow hopes her craft can become a way of sharing the UAE’s cultural heritage with audiences around the world. Proud of the country’s rich traditions, she feels a strong responsibility to represent the Emirates positively through her work.
Her ultimate ambition is to take her handcrafted creations beyond the UAE, introducing Emirati culture and heritage to a wider international audience.
