With Eid approaching, UAE henna artists unveil this year’s top trends and designs, while sharing the challenges they face amid uncertain times..
For Dubai-based henna artist Asiya Raheem, the days leading up to Eid are among the busiest of the year. Some days, she begins work at 7 a.m. and continues applying henna until Fajr the next morning. Despite current uncertainties, her schedule remains full.
“The usual number of clients has dipped slightly, as many people travel from other GCC countries to visit family here,” she explained. “But my calendar is still packed, with just small pockets of time in between.”
A henna artist with over 12 years of experience, Asiya explained that she usually schedules bookings in three batches—morning, afternoon, and post-Iftar. “I prefer group bookings because they save a lot of travel time,” she said. “In some homes, there can be up to 20 people, and depending on the complexity of the design, it can take up to eight hours.”
She noted that the most sought-after trends this year are Jagua henna and dome-style designs. “I don’t offer Jagua as it’s a niche product and more expensive than regular henna,” she said. “I haven’t had clients requesting it, but the trend has been gaining popularity since last year. As for designs, dome patterns and Indian-inspired henna art are especially popular with younger clients. Many prefer a blend of Indian and Arabic styles.”
Jagua henna is a natural, plant-based, blue-colored temporary tattoo dye derived from the fruit of the Genipa americana tree. When combined with regular henna, it produces a bluish-black stain instead of the typical reddish-orange hue.
Celebrity henna artist Azra Khamissa, who sold over 1,000 henna cones last year, announced on her social media that she will not be shipping her cones outside the UAE this year. She cited shipping costs—which have nearly tripled due to regional unrest—as well as uncertain delivery times. “My fresh natural henna cones expire within five days at room temperature, and I can’t risk them going bad during longer deliveries,” she explained.
Sharjah-based henna artist Tanaaz said she has been more cautious with appointments this year due to the ongoing unrest. “Previously, I used to travel all over the UAE, but this year I’m focusing only on orders from Sharjah,” she said. “With authorities advising caution during missile interceptions, I want to avoid unnecessary long drives. The UAE is doing an excellent job keeping us safe, so it’s our responsibility to follow the rules.”
She noted that, alongside Jagua, there’s been a rising demand for peel-off stickers and henna stencils this year. “Some local henna artists make their own peel-off stickers,” she explained. “They work like temporary tattoos and don’t require women to sit for long to get a stain. Stencils have been popular for some time now, as they allow almost a DIY henna experience.”
