Fakhriya’s journey of reinvention

Behind every stand on the stage is a hidden narration that is to be narrated proudly, telling of the challenges that have been overcome and the boundaries that have been crossed. Fakhriya al Balushi narrates her story with quiet gratitude, “I reached this stage by the grace of Allah alone,” carrying the weight of years of effort, setbacks, reinvention and resilience.

Fakhriya started her journey a long time ago, refined by patience and dedication.

She began with henna. For 12 years, she worked tirelessly, refining her craft until she reached a professional level.

Her medical diagnosis, which involved suffering from severe migraines, became a condition that was chronic and exhausting. Month after month, she required intravenous painkillers at clinics and hospitals to cope.

In fact, the challenges did not end there. She also suffered from a serious condition in her right hand, carpal tunnel syndrome. Her health put blocks on her henna journey, and it had become increasingly difficult to continue her work as before. But her entrepreneurial spirit did not stop there. She soon discovered another path: the cosmetics business.

Starting enthusiastically, she launched her cosmetics business and continued on this path for seven years, during which she was also working in a sweet factory.

However, she decided to resign from her job — another difficult decision — and chose independence, putting more focus on her small business.

For Fakhriya, the journey was never straightforward. During her journey as the owner of a cosmetics business, the Covid-19 pandemic became a turning point, bringing uncertainty but also unexpected change. This new business had become a new source of income.

During the first wave, her sales doubled. But the second wave reversed everything. “My sales dropped significantly,” she explained, describing the challenges she faced. Products expired, and losses accumulated. This instability forced her to rethink her path.

For Fakhriya, passion has always been survival, and whatever she faces are hurdles to overcome. Fakhriya made a bold decision: she diversified.

Alongside her cosmetics business, she started a sweets business through another account.

Balancing between her two businesses became overwhelming. After a year of trying, she made a painful choice and closed her cosmetics account. She sold her makeup products and stepped away from the venture that she had spent years building.

This time, she was not forced to find a new path for herself, but she began to focus more on her sweets business. “I entered my first cookie course,” she recalls, “and from there, I launched into sweets workshops.” Then, she adopted a growth mindset, continuing to learn by attending courses with experienced chefs, driven by a deep desire to improve and her passion became her compass.

Fakhriya’s journey is not defined by a single success or failure. It is a story of continuous transformation, led by dedication, patience and determination. From henna artistry to sweets, from business expansion to health battles, and from closure to reinvention, her path reflects the reality of many young entrepreneurs navigating uncertainty.

Her belief in growth is the true soul of her story. Her story is not about what she built or lost, but about her ability to begin again, each time stronger than before.