In a world where dreams often take years to flourish, AlDhabi AlMheiri, a ten-year-old prodigy from the United Arab Emirates, has already charted an extraordinary path of creativity, leadership, and empowerment. From becoming the youngest Emirati entrepreneur to publishing her first book by the age of seven, AlDhabi’s journey shows the boundless potential of young minds. Her passion for storytelling and advocacy for children’s voices has not only earned her prestigious accolades but also sparked a movement that encourages children to share their own stories, embrace diversity, and tackle real-world issues through the power of literature.
AlDhabi AlMheiri is an award- author, winning author, and Women of Worth, the youngest Emirati entrepreneur, By the age of seven she earned a Guinness World Record for publishing her bilingual book, ’I Had an Idea’’, which showcases the relationship between a mother and daughter. and a zealous activist for children’s empowerment. As an energetic publisher, motivational speaker and the founder of Rainbow Chimney Bookstore and Publishing House, she is committed to empowering young writers and promoting cultural diversity through the transformative power of storytelling and publishing. AlDhabi firmly believes in the power of stories, providing children with a chance to express their thoughts, feelings, and experience through her books.
As the author of two books and the publisher of over 52 works by children from diverse backgrounds. AlMheri’s mission is to promote education, financial literacy, and emotional resilience through narrative. Her initiatives, such as ‘’Books from Children to Children’’ foster creativity and self- expression among youth while addressing crucial social issues like diversity, inclusion, and emotional well-being.
AIDhabi is passionate about empowering children, promoting sustainability, and advocating for them with additional needs. Her achievements include publishing over 50 books and participating in more than 35 global initiatives. She’s also an advocate for emerging child authors, encouraging children to write books in both Arabic and English.
Despite her young age, AlDhabi is already a mentor, having been guided by Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, Al Dhabi passes on her meets. Through public speaking engagements and workshops, she inspires young people to dream big and pursuers their goals while offering practical guidance on achieving success. and she recently grimly believe radiated from Georgetown University’s Win Fellowship program in collaboration with the Atlantic Council.
In addition to her work in literature, she is a passionate advocate for children with further desires, ensuring that their voices are amplified and their unique talents are recognized and nurtured. Her enthusiasm for finance has also driven her entrepreneurial ventures, making her a role model for young aspiring business leaders.
Her mentorship extends to advocating for children with special need, fostering inclusivity, and using storytelling as a tool for emotional resilience and empowerment.
Her passion for literature and learning sparked the creation of Rainbow Chimney, a platform for young readers stocked with a diverse array of books catering to various interests and educational needs,” We have wordbooks, colouring books, activity books, craft books and many more.” Despite her young age, AlDhabi is no stranger to challenges, “Honesty, there’s no success without challenges,” She reflects.
“I believe that what inspires me to continue my story is the empowerment I receive, including the empowerment I gain from Her Highness Sheikha Fathima bint Mubarak. Our government and wise leadership have already opened the doors to us. We don’t even need to knock!”
Through initiatives like “Books from children to children “and ‘Eco club”, AlDhabi empowers young minds to explore issues like climate change and sustainability. ALMheiri’s commitment to education and personal development is exemplified by her academic achievements. She graduated as Fellow as a Fellow from Georgetown university’s School of Business in 2024. In collaboration with the US Mission to the UAE,and successfully completed the Entrepreneurship Program offered by Google and the UAE Ministry of Economy.
Through her work and vision, AlMheri is leaving a lasting impact on young people, advocating for s future where education, storytelling, financial literacy, and sustainability are the cornerstones of societal progress. Her initiatives are deeply aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reflecting her dedication to creating a better world for future generations.
Prioritization is essential when managing both school and business as a young entrepreneur.It invovves identifying the most urgent and important tasks and focusing on those first. For instance , if you have a final test coming up, your schoolwork needs more focus to have faor study time on your schedule. On the other hand, if you have a launch or important meeting, you may need to focuss on your busuness tasks more during that time, since both school and busineas come with deadlines, learning to distinguish between what’s immediately necessary and what can it helps you stay on track. Ads by
Al Ain-based Emirati AlDhabi AlMheiri read 1,200 books by the age of six. She eventually turned her hobby into a business proposition by launching a children-focused online platform.
Hobby led to a business idea
Adding on, AlDhabi says, “I love running Rainbow Chimney, it’s a lot of fun.” The things that she loves doing the most are packing the boxes with books, toys and stationery, based on selection that includes gender, age, interest as well as special needs if any. Then she places labels and price tags on the boxes often with a handwritten note. She is also learning to catalogue books and toys, checking each item before they go online.
“AlDhabi is very curious by nature. I realised this when she was barely two years old and started reading to her using the phonics methodology,” said AlDhabi’s mother Mouza AlDarmaki.
“A few years ago, we were in a mall and AlDhabi insisted on buying a toy. I thought it was an opportune moment to explain her the difference between want and need. Thankfully she understood that she didn’t need that toy, it was only a want that could wait. Now she teaches the same principle to her younger siblings. It’s important to teach children the value of money. It’s because we started teaching her simple money management principles that today AlDhabi knows that she can buy one book for Dh50 or even three with the same amount, it’s a matter of choice. In fact, now whatever money she earns as reward from family members she reinvests into the business. We also follow another ground rule of never taking any item for free from Rainbow Chimney even if it’s our own business,” AlDarmaki shares.
Even before setting up Rainbow Chimney, AlDhabi was fond of handpicking and packing gifts, mostly books and toys, for her cousins and friends. Seeing AlDhabi’s genuine interest to read and how she encouraged others to read, her parents decided to support her to set up Rainbow Chimney with an initial capital of Dh8,000.
“We wanted AlDhabi to test out her idea by creating a minimum viable product, personalised boxes offering educational aids in this case. We started with slightly over 100 titles and two to three books under each title. My husband and I agreed that if the proposition works well, we will support AlDhabi with more investment until the business becomes self-sustaining. So, when we started receiving positive feedback from customers, we invested more money. As of now, we have invested a total of AED480,000 to grow Rainbow Chimney, and we constantly reinvest earnings from the business into the business,” AlDarmaki shares.
“Give children the independence to choose and pursue what they like,” AlDarmaki says. “Having the independence to choose will bring out their innate potential. It will also prepare them to make choices independently – be that completing homework or pursuing a certain career later in life. As parents we can guide them along the way, support them but not impose our decisions on them. AlDhabi loves to read, write, colour and at the same time she is learning coding because she wants to. It’s important to realise that a child is not a copy of their parents. They are individuals and must develop their own characteristics, interests and ultimately carve out their own life.”
Tips from AlDhabi-
- If you have a dream, make it real
- Work hard to make your ideas work and never give up
- Always remember what Mary Poppins said: ‘Everything is possible, even the impossible.”
Message from a parent to parents: Mouza AlDarmaki
“Beyond business Rainbow Chimney delivers an even bigger message to parents. And that is to parents. And that is to acknowledge a child’s abilities and help them discover new things and eventually their innate potential.”
“Every child is born with talents and abilities; some parents realise it in time and sometimes it’s too late. On discovering some parents are sympathetic and nature children with the right opportunities. But some may not be as much caring for various explanations and to them I’d like to say believe in your children and their abilities. Children have magical abilities and its upon us to discover and nurture their talents.”
Article by
Preetha VR
About the Writer
Preetha VR is a passionate educator with over 25 years of experience working with children aged 3 to 12 years. An Abacus instructor, subject coordinator, poet, and author, Preetha was born in Kerala and grew up across various regions of North and South India. Despite facing early challenges, including the loss of her parents, she pursued her academic ambitions, earning a Master’s degree in English Language. From her formative years, Preetha displayed a strong work ethic, delving into teaching and writing at a young age. In 2015, she made a significant move to the UAE, working as an English Language Teacher at East Point Indian International School. She has since established herself both personally and professionally in the UAE. Currently, Preetha holds a Transitional Teacher’s license and serves as an Academic Resource Person at the Sri Narayani Teacher Training Center in Hyderabad, India, reflecting her dedication to education and lifelong learning.