About
A little of where I come from.
I’m Zahra Abdalla. Half Iranian, half Sudanese, born in London and raised in Vancouver. In 2004, I arrived in Dubai with two suitcases, thinking I would stay for a year or two.
Dubai became home.
Each place has left something with me. A flavour, a way of seeing things, a memory I return to. Perhaps that’s why I’ve always loved bringing people together. There is something familiar in welcoming someone, sharing food and taking the time to hear their story.
In 2010, I started Cooking with Zahra to share recipes with friends: dishes from my childhood, flavours I was discovering and meals from my family kitchen. Over time, our conversations reached into motherhood, identity and the changes we were finding our way through.
As my life evolved, so did what I wanted to create.
Zahra Collective grew from wanting to give that curiosity more room — to share what inspires me, listen to how others are finding their way and bring people together.
Here, a recipe sits alongside a reflection or a discovery worth passing on. Through Art of Joy, someone else’s experience can help us see our own differently. Through The Shared Table, we meet in person to share food, learn something and let conversation unfold.
A little more intention. A little more joy.
I’m learning to choose where I place my attention, release what I’ve outgrown and trust the next step. Building the Collective is part of that learning, with a reminder to enjoy what’s here while making room for what comes next.
And this is just the beginning.
We begin here in Dubai. In time, I hope we’ll gather in other places, shaped by the people we meet and what they bring. For now, I’m looking forward to seeing how the Collective grows through everyone who becomes part of it.
Thank you for being here. I hope you find something that speaks to you — and reasons to return.
With love,
Zahra
Join the Collective
There’s always room for another perspective.
The Shared Table is growing, and so is the community around it.
Join Zahra Collective to discover upcoming experiences, receive early invitations and be part of the conversations, ideas and gatherings that bring it all to life.
Have an idea?
Let’s create something together
Some of the best experiences begin with a shared idea.
Whether you’re a chef, artist, maker, storyteller or someone with a passion worth sharing, we’d love to discover what we could create together.