Sheikha Sana Al Maktoum pays homage to her remarkable grandmother with debut jewellery series: 'She was a good guiding force'

A cool ocean breeze blows over the patio of the Al Sufouh palace where Sheikha Sana Al Maktoum is unveiling her debut jewellery collection.

The 21-year-old royal is hosting a romantic breakfast at Dubai's Sheikha Hessa Bint Khalifa Palace with a small number of press and, endearingly, admits to being nervous about her first official media appearance.

She needn’t be. Her passion and enthusiasm on her behalf new collection - and, moreover, the girl who inspired it - will be infectious.

The 13 fine jewellery pieces in the My Treasure collection are centred around a butterfly motif, which Sheikha Sana sees as symbolic of transformation and growth.

“I wanted to create a thing that empowered girls and may make them feel like they can undertake the environment,” she says.

Crafted from yellow, rose and white precious metal, establish with ethically sourced diamonds and sapphires of varying hues, the pieces incorporate bracelets, bands and necklaces that happen to be defined simply by their delicacy. Butterflies wings flit between your fingers or cascade en masse from the ears.

As the debut collection from the burgeoning Sana Al Maktoum brand had its soft launch in August, Covid-19 ensured it was a pared-back affair. However, Sheikha Sana says the reaction from the public has already been “amazing”.

The collection can be an homage to Sheikha Sana’s grandmother, Sheikha Sana Bint Mana Al Maktoum, who died in 2006.

“The collection is inspired by my grandmother, who always paved her own path. I wanted to spread her history - how she was such a solid feminine and a feminist before anyone actually knew what that meant in this area. She was a businesswoman and a business owner, and some of my fondest thoughts are going to her residence and seeing her with a bunch of men, in a meeting, and seeing and hearing how individuals were hence in awe of her," says Sheikha Sana.

“She'd always help people. She was a guiding force and everyone looked up to her, at the same time when it had been difficult to stand all on your own two feet, as a woman. But her father educated her, so she could be independent. This is normally a way for me to talk about a part of her with everyone.”

Sheikha Sana hopes to work with her own jewellery manufacturer to create positive switch for women and kids, through education-related charity partnerships.

At age 17, fuelled by a pastime in diamonds, Sheikha Sana took a grading course at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), accompanied by a course at the International Gemological Institute.

“In the final times of the IGI course, we'd this guy can be found in and give a speech. He explained that jewellery is approximately happiness and about celebrating; it is granted on birthdays and on engagements and different happy occasions. And I think that’s when I really fell deeply in love with the community of jewellery.”

She used to have technique trips to Dubai’s Gold Souk, to help expand expand her knowledge. “I used to visit the gold souk every Saturday, without anyone learning who I was. I employed to sit and take in espresso and chat and ask questions and learn.

“I’m still learning, but I have that drive. I want to share part of who I am through my drawings and my patterns.”