How I got my job…Hala Abdallah on unlocking Dubai’s creative spirit with InterContinental

When it comes to style that’s effortlessly chic but still totally real, few people do it like
Hala Abdallah. The Saudi designer and founder of the jewellry brand OFA is teaming up with InterContinental Hotels & Resorts as Dubai’s go-to tastemaker for their Doors Unlocked series – think exclusive, behind-the-scenes access to the coolest global cultural moments, from London Fashion Week to the Tokyo Film Festival. For Dubai Design
Week, Hala put together a 48-hour city adventure that celebrates Dubai’s buzzing
creative scene and the people making it happen.

Cosmo Me: How did you first get into the world of design?

Hala: Design has always been a part of me. I grew up sketching buildings and spaces,
fascinated by how form shapes emotion. Studying architecture in Los Angeles formalised that passion and taught me precision, scale, and storytelling through structure.

Cosmo Me: You started as an architect, how did that lead to jewellery and creative projects?

Hala: Architecture trained me to think in three dimensions and details. When I couldn’t find jewellery that matched my vision, I began designing pieces for myself. The process felt familiar: sketch, prototype, refine. One necklace turned into a collection, and OFA was born. Architecture’s rigour now grounds my creative freedom in jewellery.

Cosmo Me: What inspires your work the most?

Hala: Everything around me: Saudi heritage, desert light, global cities, conversations, art, and human stories. Inspiration is constant. I carry a notebook everywhere. A pattern on a Riyadh door or a sunset in Dubai can spark an entire collection.

Cosmo Me: How would you describe your style?

Hala: Timeless and minimal.

Cosmo Me: How did the partnership around InterContinental and Dubai Design Week come about?

Hala: It came together very naturally. InterContinental reached out through Doors Unlocked, their new global initiative that gives guests insider access to major cultural events around the world. They were looking for a Middle Eastern voice to co-curate the Dubai experience, someone who could translate the city’s design pulse in a personal way.
Our shared passion for creativity, elegance, and meaningful connection made it an
immediate fit. What I love about Doors Unlocked is that it’s not about luxury as a label;
it’s about opening real doors to culture, design, and community.

Cosmo Me: What was your role in creating the 48-hour experience for Dubai Design Week?

Hala: I co-curated the full itinerary for the Doors Unlocked Dubai experience. Guests enjoyed exclusive access to Downtown Design and EDITIONS Dubai and a special Incredible Occasion dinner I hosted at Pierre’s TT inside InterContinental Dubai Festival City. I wanted the entire experience to feel like a creative journey through my Dubai – personal, inspiring, and rooted in the city’s rhythm. Everything from the menu to the setting reflected design and culture coming together in a meaningful way.

Cosmo Me: Give us a few of your favourite hidden spots or creative spaces in Dubai?

Hala: To me, insider access isn’t about exclusivity, it’s about connection. It’s those rare
moments where you meet the artist behind the piece, walk through a gallery before it opens, or share a meal that sparks new ideas. That’s the kind of access Doors Unlocked gives, experiences that make you see a city differently.