We all know a mother, a sister, a wife, a daughter, or a friend who became family. Whether she raised you, shaped you, challenged you, or quietly held you together, a woman has been at the centre of your story. This past Women’s Day, The Saudi Times does not celebrate with grand gestures or empty proclamations. We tell a story. A real one. About real women who got up, showed up, and created something the Kingdom will remember.
This previous month of March, The Saudi Times dedicated its International Women’s Day 2026 feature to two exceptional women whose collaboration reflects the spirit of Saudi Arabia’s new creative era. Ameerah Maryna Roman represents the next generation of creative visionaries. Mariam Mossalli continues to lead as an entrepreneur, mentor, and cultural storyteller whose commitment to empowering women has become a national touchstone.
Their work together on one of the Kingdom’s most talked-about all-female productions is far more than fashion or design. It is a celebration of what women can build when they support each other across generations. Shot between Diriyah in Riyadh and Historic Al Balad in Jeddah, the production stands as a tribute to the boundless potential of women who choose to lift as they rise.
For this exclusive feature, The Saudi Times spotlights the women at the heart of it all. Her Royal Highness Princess Abeer Al Faisal Al Saud, jewellery designer at Nuun Jewels. Amal Dokhan, angel investor and Managing Partner at 500 Global. Mariam Mossalli, entrepreneur, mentor, and cultural storyteller. And Sarah Abudawood, founder of Yataghan Jewellery.
Behind the lens, creative director Ameerah Maryna Roman led an all-female crew that conceived and executed a production built entirely as a tribute to the women of the region. Through fashion, art direction, and visual storytelling, these women bring distinct backgrounds and perspectives to one shared story: a story of leadership, sisterhood, and a creative vision that is redefining Saudi Arabia’s cultural identity, at home and across the world.
Ameerah Maryna Roman: The Name to Watch
At the centre of this production stands Ameerah Maryna Roman, creative director and multidisciplinary artist, whose passion for visual storytelling transcends borders. Born in Malaga, Spain, she carries a distinctly European touch, one rooted in centuries of history, elegance, and class. That background gives her a sharp, trained eye for aesthetics and beauty that is rare to find and immediately felt in everything she creates.
With a foundation in fine art and broad experience in creative direction, marketing, and luxury brand strategy, Ameerah has emerged as one of the leading creative voices shaping a new visual language for Saudi Arabia. She is, without question, a rising star to watch.
Recognised for her refined aesthetic and emotive approach, she crafts visual stories that blend artistic authenticity with conceptual precision. Her cross-cultural dialogue, merging Andalusian roots with Saudi heritage, has produced a body of work that embodies the richness, confidence, and modernity of Arab womanhood.
“Creating this project alongside Mariam Mossalli and such extraordinary Saudi women was a true honour. Each of them is shaping culture and leadership in her own way and bringing them together through a women-led creative vision felt incredibly meaningful.” she told The Saudi Times.
Maryna’s Vision: Conceived by Women, for Women
Maryna’s most recent project saw her serve as Creative Director for a Women’s Day feature commissioned by the Middle Eastern edition of a renowned French global fashion and lifestyle publication, a benchmark in female-led editorial production in the region.
“This project was conceived as a tribute to the women of the region, their foundations, their journeys, and the paths they continue to build across industries. Each woman brings a distinct background and trajectory, yet together they embody a powerful collective narrative of leadership, creativity, and vision.” she told The Saudi Times.
Mariam Mossalli: The Force Bridging Talent and Opportunity
At the helm of this initiative was Mariam Najeeb Mossalli, whose strategic vision, guidance, and mentorship were instrumental to its success. A prominent figure in Saudi Arabia’s creative and business landscape, Mariam began her career as a fashion editor before becoming a sought-after luxury consultant and the founder of Niche Arabia in 2011, today the leading luxury consultancy in the GCC.
Through Niche Arabia, she has built a powerful bridge between local and international talent, orchestrating collaborations that unite designers, sponsors, fashion houses, and global creatives under one cohesive cultural vision. Recognised as one of Saudi Arabia’s most influential women across fashion, business, mentorship, and editorial innovation, she continues to redefine the region’s creative landscape and spotlight Saudi talent on the world stage.
Named among the 50 Most Influential Saudi Women in Business, Mariam is also a long-standing advocate for female entrepreneurs. As Head of the Board for C Suite Advisory, she empowers startups and offers strategic mentorship to women driving businesses across the Kingdom.
Her contribution to this production went far beyond mentorship. Mariam served as the force connecting international and Saudi creatives, aligning sponsorships, partnerships, logistics, and execution. She also embodied the project’s spirit both behind and in front of the camera, standing as a visible symbol of female strength, collaboration, and leadership.
“At the end of the day, I just want to leave a positive mark. Everything I do, whether it is the Saudi Style Council connecting young creatives, or Under the Abaya giving Saudi women a voice, comes from the same place. It is about creating spaces where women feel they belong, where they are celebrated and supported. This shoot, to me, is about women of legacy, using their work, their stories, and their hearts to build something that lasts.” she told The Saudi Times.
Faces of Leadership and Creativity
This production brought together a remarkable group of Saudi women leaders, each exemplifying contemporary creativity, collaboration, and purpose. The Saudi Times spoke with these visionary women about their experiences and what it means to be part of a project led entirely by women, one that celebrates empowerment, innovation, and unity.
More than a creative collaboration, this production carries a message from Saudi Arabia to the world: women shaping narratives, leading with purpose, and inspiring change across borders.
Among the names behind the production is the Saudi Style Council, a not-for-profit platform dedicated to advancing the Kingdom’s emerging fashion industry. Driven by a commitment to local talent, the council nurtures a sustainable creative ecosystem with one clear ambition: to establish Saudi Arabia as a global reference point in fashion.
Their mission centres on empowering homegrown creatives to lead change, elevating the Kingdom’s fashion identity and exporting its aesthetic to the world. For this production, they brought that mission to life in the most powerful way possible, with women leading at every level. From creative directors and photographers behind the camera to the faces in front of the lens, this was an entirely women-led production. A true testament to Saudi female talent and the shifting landscape of the Kingdom’s creative industry, where women are no longer waiting for a seat at the table. They are building it.
The Royal Touch
The royal essence of this shoot comes from Her Royal Highness Princess Abeer Al Faisal Al Saud, whose creations illuminated the production with elegance and grace. A London-trained gemologist and jewellery designer at Nuun Jewels, Princess Abeer draws inspiration from the richness of Saudi heritage, its architecture, textiles, and traditions, transforming them into contemporary designs that embody story, identity, and legacy.
“For me, women’s empowerment in the region is about stepping confidently into creative and leadership roles while staying connected to who we are and where we come from. Being part of a project shaped by a women-led team is incredibly meaningful. It reflects the power of collaboration, shared vision, and women supporting one another to create something truly impactful and aesthetically beautiful.” she told The Saudi Times.
Amal Dokhan: Investing in Women, Investing in the Future
Amal Dokhan is a visionary investor committed to reshaping how opportunity and leadership are defined across the region. With a focus on identifying potential where it truly exists, she champions founders who reflect innovation, resilience, and purpose, particularly women whose ideas and impact have historically been underfunded yet deeply transformative.
“As an investor, my role is to allocate capital where talent and opportunity exist, not where historical bias has directed it. Backing women founders is simply backing high-quality leadership that has long been undercapitalised. Investing in women is not a diversity initiative. It is a leadership decision, one that builds stronger, more resilient companies and ecosystems. When we invest in women founders, we are not only backing a company. We are expanding the leadership pipeline that will shape the next generation of innovation.” she told The Saudi Times.
Finesse and Vision: Rawan Kattoa’s Refined Touch
Among this unique crew, Rawan Kattoa, Founder of Refined, played a defining creative role. The first Saudi fashion styling and luxury consultancy of its kind, Refined fuses local perspective with international expertise, introducing a modern voice that resonates on the global stage.
Behind the scenes, Rawan embodies dedication in its purest form, often the first to arrive and the last to leave. Her attention to detail and hands-on commitment ensured every element of the shoot came together with purpose, reflecting both her creative vision and her relentless work ethic.
“As a woman, entrepreneur, and mother, empowerment begins with the courage to build, lead, and nurture simultaneously. Across Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, we see women shaping industries, driving innovation, and redefining what is possible while honouring our culture and identity.” she told The Saudi Times.
The Art of the Silhouette
Under the direction of Refined, stylist Lulua Alwadaani brought the shoot’s visual identity to life with an instinctive, practiced eye. Known for her modern approach to styling and her mastery of proportion and presence, Lulua uses fashion not simply to dress women, but to define how they see themselves.
Her work reflects the best of today’s Saudi style: graceful, confident, and full of identity. With her at the centre, everything clicked, culture, creativity, and individuality in perfect balance.
“As a stylist, I believe empowering women starts with how they see themselves. Fashion is more than clothes. It is confidence, identity, and presence. Every detail is intentional. Every silhouette highlights a woman’s strength and timeless elegance.” she told The Saudi Times.
Founded with Intention, Empowered Through Time
Ameerah Maryna Roman has spent six years building a reputation and collaborating on impactful projects across the Kingdom, empowering women both in front of and behind the camera. For this production, created specifically for the International Women’s Day 2026 campaign, she directed an all-female crew, a testament to her commitment to advancing women’s roles within Saudi Arabia’s creative industry.
Her vision was to set the shoot across two of the Kingdom’s most iconic locations: Diriyah, the birthplace of the nation, and Historic Al Balad in Jeddah. Against these backdrops, the campaign brings together extraordinary women, cast and crew alike, in a setting that blends heritage and innovation. Drawing on cinematic desert light, authentic Saudi architecture, and haute couture, the production bridges tradition and modernity, portraying women as living monuments of creativity and culture.
“Through this campaign, we wanted to celebrate women not only as carriers of legacy but as visionaries guiding the next era of creativity and leadership. What is founded with intention becomes powerful with time. That is the message at the heart of this story.” she told The Saudi Times.
The result is a cinematic and poetic visual narrative, placing Saudi and international talent side by side, redefining how Arab women are seen globally and raising the standard for fashion and creative production in the Kingdom.
Collaboration in Motion
Behind the lens, the synergy was entirely female-driven: one creative director, one photographer and assistant, two makeup artists and assistant, two hair stylists, one stylists, one fashion consultant, two videographers, one project manager and three women capturing behind-the-scenes footage.
These candid moments, women directing, laughing, and creating together capture empowerment not as a theme, but as a shared, lived experience in today’s Saudi Arabia.
A New Creative Era for Saudi Women
Together, Ameerah Maryna Roman and Mariam Mossalli represent the intersection of vision and mentorship, two generations of women driving Saudi Arabia’s creative and fashion industries into a new global spotlight.
From canvas to camera, Ameerah has always done both, artist and creative director at once, translating emotion into motion and vision into image. As she continues to collaborate with some of the region’s most influential women, she is proving that Saudi talent is not only part of the global narrative but actively helping to write it. Grounded in artistry, guided by purpose, and illuminated by originality, Ameerah Maryna Roman is a name to watch and a rising creative force in Saudi Arabia’s fashion editorial renaissance.
This Women’s Day 2026, The Saudi Times proudly celebrates them and every woman who shaped this historic collaboration. A powerful reminder that what is founded with intention becomes powerful through time, and that Saudi women are not only part of the creative story. They are the ones writing it.
Production Credits
Creative Direction: @ameerahmaryna
Guidance & Mentorship: @mariammossalli
Production: @saudistylecouncil_
Photography: @rawanalturkiphotography
Fashion Consultancy: @refinedconsultancy
Styling: @wadaanilulua9
Makeup: @inashammoud @makeupbyjaraz
Hair: @dessange_jed @soma_hair_style
Featuring: @abeer_alfaisal17 @marriammossalli @amal_dokhan @yataghanjewellery @nuunjewlery
By Boudou Gueffai, Editor-in-Chief, The Saudi Times
