Fatima Mohamed Bin Zayed Initiative CEO Maywand Jabarkhyl On Enterprise As An Engine For Empowerment

When Emirati royal HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan established the Fatima bint Mohamed bin Zayed Initiative (FBMI) out of the UAE in 2010, the philanthropic endeavor was founded on a radical premise: it wasn’t designed to give—instead, it was built to enable.

“The vision from the offset was incredibly simple, yet one that very few were thinking of or even ready to take on: sustainability in philanthropy,” FBMI CEO Maywand Jabarkhyl tells Inc. Arabia. “The vision went beyond the concept of humanitarian aid—we sought to establish a comprehensive development model that places human beings, particularly women, at the heart of sustainable development, and drives them to become social entrepreneurs. The initiative began with a clear goal: to empower women by providing them with decent and sustainable employment, free healthcare, and educational opportunities, and, in turn, enhancing their independence, strengthening their families, and enabling them to contribute meaningfully to their local economy as well as society.”

FBMI’s journey began in Afghanistan, with the organization choosing the nation’s traditional hand-knotted carpet-weaving industry to prove its thesis that enterprise can be turned into empowerment. The sector, which produces one of the country’s most notable exports, also employs a large number of women, and by providing them with sustainable employment as well as access to essential social services, FBMI has, 15 years on, become what it proudly calls “a first-of-its-kind, self-sustaining organization, built on a 360-degree ecosystem of products and initiatives that fund themselves through purpose-driven commerce.” Today, FBMI stands tall as an institution that advises governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and private entities on its sustainable model and belief that purpose-driven trade can be a genuine tool for empowerment and progress.

A scene from FBMI’s participation at the UAE’s Year of Tolerance exhibition in 2019.

FBMI currently has five social enterprises under its umbrella. These include retail brands like Zuleya, which brings to market the carpets and handicrafts created through FBMI’s work in Afghanistan, as well as Mira, which sells produce grown by Afghan female farmers. In the UAE, FBMI partnered with the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy to launch the Diplomacy Lab with the aim of exploring innovative solutions for the future of diplomacy; it also established the Emirati District with the country’s Federal Youth Authority to promote homegrown products and concepts. FBMI’s latest undertaking is Hunger, a social enterprise that’s dedicated to combating malnutrition in Tanzania, while also empowering its local farmers. The new venture builds on FBMI’s founding belief that purpose-driven trade, not charity, can create lasting impact—a conviction that, as its CEO admits, wasn’t easy to sell at the start.

“There are two aspects to this,” Jabarkhyl explains. “The first was convincing customers, and the second was convincing the communities. The greatest challenge was convincing communities that sustainable solutions come from productive work that creates value and generates lasting impact, rather than from short-term aid. It is incredibly difficult to move people away from the handouts they receive; however, through a great mix of teamwork, providing better conditions, free healthcare, and giving workers a sense of ownership, we’ve arrived at a stage where we are inundated with requests for employment… When it comes to the retail aspect, convincing customers to pay more is always a challenge; however, by investing in design, research, and development, and creating meaningful partnerships, we were able to create a unique meaningful offering and value.”

The Emirati District is a homegrown initiative by the FBMI and the UAE’s Federal Youth Authority.

To FBMI’s credit, the model it has chosen for its philanthropic endeavors has proved to be remarkably resilient in a landscape where many others are struggling to endure. “What we are seeing today is a drastic cut globally in external funding and goodwill,” Jabarkhyl shares. “It doesn’t surprise me; it has been a long time coming. Although we are well-positioned to receive external funding, there have been numerous circumstances where we have turned down funding to maintain our sustainable model. Today, we have built five unique social enterprises that fully fund our humanitarian mission from healthcare to education. We’ve been able to do this by offering customers valuable and meaningful products; be it from our artisanal social enterprise Zuleya, or our agricultural arm Mira. I firmly believe that financial independence is the true foundation for continuity and long-term impact.”

Tested over time, this principle has also defined what FBMI has come to stand for. “Looking back at FBMI’s journey, my heart swells with pride, not for awards or recognition, but for the people whose lives we’ve touched,” Jabarkhyl shares. “I am proud of the women who dared to dream, of families finding dignity and hope, and of communities that are stronger because of the opportunities we helped create. The greatest reward is seeing smiles, confidence, and independence grow where there was once struggle and uncertainty. The key pillar all along has been consistency, not deviating from our mission, as tempting as it has been. This approach holds exceptional importance, as it creates genuine opportunities for self-reliance, reduces dependence on aid, and makes development more realistic and sustainable.”

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, (right) and HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the UAE, (left) interacting with products created under the FBMI banner.

15 years at FBMI have also given Jabarkhyl perspective on what truly sustains change. “The greatest lesson I have learnt is that true sustainability begins with people—by empowering them, educating them, and providing them with the tools to shape their own future, giving them that sense of belonging and ownership,” he says. And this, in turn, informs Jabarkhyl’s notes for others wishing to also build purpose-driven projects that combine scalability with sustainability. “My advice is to stay true to your cause, build meaningful partnerships but always maintain control, and, most importantly, always have something unique to offer,” he concludes. 

Pictured in the lead image is Maywand Jabarkhyl, CEO, Fatima bint Mohamed bin Zayed Initiative (FBMI). Image courtesy FBMI.