Noora al-Ansar, A Qatari businesswoman, turned heads at the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition, pitting herself against industry giants while bucking trends in the conservative country.
Noora al-Ansari — a Qatari woman running her own company, “Papillon Jewelry,” and dealing with customers herself — is a rarity in the wealthy Gulf state, where a growing number of women work. Still, few have made their name in the business.
Since opening her first Papillon store in the capital Doha, customers have been curious about her nationality.
When women saw me standing in Papillon, they were wondering whether I was Qatari or not,” she told AFP, her exhibition stand flanked by household names of the jewelry world.
“They were not used to seeing a Qatari woman standing in her shop” and dealing with the business and customers, she said.
“When they found out, they said, ‘we are so proud of you. You have beautiful pieces. And that encourages me.”
The week-long exhibition ending on Saturday reflects the opulence of Qatar, whose massive gas reserves have made it one of the world’s wealthiest countries but where women’s rights have caused controversy.
Ansari said she calls the annual show, which has drawn more than 30,000 visitors, “the big Qatari wedding” because it is highly anticipated among Doha society.
A steady flow of luxury cars could be seen outside the exhibition, where Louis Vuitton, Bulgari and other global names showcased their designs.
One Cartier necklace was on sale for $21 million.
‘All owned by men’
A former education and oil industry executive, Ansari designed her first solitaire ring in 2008 and launched her business three years later.
In 2022, she moved her store into one of Doha’s most expensive malls alongside the international names she competed with at the show.
“I am very proud as a woman to be a jeweler because all the names that you hear about in Doha, all the jewelry stores here, are owned by men,” she said.
She added that her customers appreciated her efforts to explain the “four Cs” of diamonds — cut, clarity, color and carat.
“When I visited jewelry stores, no one told us what a diamond is, why it is valuable, why we should have it and enjoy it. We keep hearing that a diamond is a girl’s best friend,” she told AFP.
There were only one or two Qatari designers when she started out, but now there are at least 10 at the Doha show, according to Ansari.
“As a local brand, to be among the big names in the world is an honor, of course. It means our jewelry is presenting our local tastes and high standards,” she said. (AFP)
