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C

"Often I feel that we lose
touch with what is important

in life. People of determination

tell us what life is about by

just being themselves. They

show me what matters."
I n our noisy and tumultuous world, it can often be
difficult to find a safe place that makes us feel
accepted and heard. But soon, in early 2022, a new
spot in the Al Quoz neighborhood of Dubai will
see a beloved community studio reopen – this time with more
space and stories to offer its visitors.
Founded in 2010, Mawaheb is a community cafe and
studio for adults with special needs, now known as ‘the de-
termined ones’ following a directive by His Highness Sheikh
Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and
Artist Namrata in front of her Frida Kahlo-inspired
Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Mawaheb is

Arabic for ‘talent’ and is the first of its kind to open in the
Middle East. The studio is a haven for people 18 and above
who want to reach their highest potential through art and
support in the development of necessary life skills, regardless
of their ability. Beyond art, Mawaheb also helps students
navigate social environments and equip them with daily life
necessities such as learning how to use the metro, make
friends and maintain these important relationships. The
original storefront operated for 10 years in the historic Al
Fahidi neighborhood before shutting down in 2020 due to
the pandemic, and the team continued to host live online
sessions to engage with visitors during the shutdown.
Leila
Wemmy de Maaker, Founder & Director of Mawaheb,
is from the Netherlands. In 2002, with 2 children aged 5 and
6 at the time, she and her husband moved to Dubai due to job
relocations. Wemmy has spent her entire professional career
working with people of determination. She first noticed when
she arrived in Dubai that there weren’t people of determina-
tion in malls or on the streets, so she became a volunteer at
one of the schools for children of determination. There, she
learned there weren’t any adequate facilities for young adults
of determination and many places had a cutoff age of 18,
leaving parents often wondering where they could bring their
children after school. Wemmy decided to set up a studio in
2008 to help people of determination find purpose and
self-expression through art and community.

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