Sister Act: How Okhtein Co-Founders Aya And Mounaz Abdelraouf Turned Arab Heritage Into Global Luxury

Mounaz and Aya Abdelraouf, sisters and co-founders of the Egyptian brand Okhtein, always knew that they wanted to be entrepreneurs. Today, having established themselves in the MENA fashion landscape with their line of distinct leather handbags (with flagship stores at Dubai’s City Walk, Riyadh’s Kingdom Mall, and Cairo’s Grand Egyptian Museum, along with launches at Harrods and Selfridges in London), the sisters tell Inc. Arabia that this trajectory always felt inevitable.

“We’ve actually been entrepreneurs long before we knew what the word meant,” Aya says. “As kids, we were always starting ‘mini businesses’ together, designing little charms and selling them by the beach for fun. Later on, when Mounaz was in high school, she began creating and selling her own bookmarks as art pieces. That eventually grew into her opening a small gallery, and I naturally stepped in as her manager; finding someone to represent her work and helping her sell out her pieces. Looking back, that’s when we realized two important things: first, that we both had a very strong entrepreneurial spirit, and second, that we worked incredibly well together. It felt almost inevitable that one day we would build something bigger as business partners, not just sisters.”

This endeavor ended up being Okhtein, which aimed to address what Mounaz and Aya saw as a considerable gap in the luxury fashion market. The sisters noted that while the Middle East represented a huge market for the domain, especially when pertaining to handbags, the region was not equally represented in design palettes and inspirations. “We wanted to take on that challenge and build a brand that reflects our DNA: strong, design-driven accessories that carry an authentic Arab point of view,” the sisters say. In 2013, they set out to do just that by launching Okhtein (Arabic for “sisters”) in Cairo, slowly building up momentum as they learned the craft, working alongside local artisans and, in some cases, underprivileged women, as they established the brand’s identity as one rooted in ethical luxury with a distinctly Arab flavor.

Okhtein at Cairo’s Grand Egyptian Museum.

“The initial vision was for Okhtein to become a global brand,” explains Mounaz. “That was a very big ambition from day one, and it still is. In that sense, the core vision hasn’t changed; what has evolved is our understanding of how to get there. Over the years, we’ve become more strategic, more structured, and more aware of the responsibility that comes with building not just a label, but a brand that represents our region on an international stage.”

That vision for Okhtein has come to life in its line of signature handbags (think clutches, evening bags, backpacks, shoulder, and totes), all in premium leather with distinctive metal hardware—typically brass with a gold finish—with motifs drawn from Ancient Egyptian and Islamic art, architecture, and nature. From semicircular minaudières embossed with palm patterns, to coiled bangle details evoking jewelry and serpent forms, as well as silhouettes inspired by domes, felucca sailboats, and historic façades, the brand embeds a rich heritage into bold, contemporary styles.

“For us, Arab luxury starts with storytelling and heritage,” says Mounaz. “It is the ability of a single piece to carry the rich narratives, motifs, and artistry of our region. When we think of Arab luxury, we think of Fatimid-inspired patterns, engraved brass, and traditional embroidery translated into something contemporary that a woman can actually live with and wear today. Arab luxury should be instantly recognizable, not because of a logo, but because of the cultural language it speaks, the shapes, the details, the materials, and the pride it carries. It is a luxury that refuses stereotypes and instead presents a modern Arab woman who is empowered, elegant, artistic, and completely confident on the global stage. For us, true Arab luxury feels timeless and relevant at the same time, appealing to international tastes, while staying fiercely honest to its roots.”

Okhtein co-founders Mounaz and Aya Abdelraouf.

The sisters’ mission with Okhtein was further validated in 2021, when the business received an investment from Bidayat, a Mediterranean-focused investment fund, a sub-fund of the Swiss Alsara Investment Group, which is managed by former Egyptian Trade and Industry Minister Rachid Mohamed Rachid (who, by the way, is the Chairman of fashion labels like Valentino and Balmain, as well as the CEO of the Qatar luxury goods investment vehicle, Mayhoola). The investment represented a pivotal moment for the brand, spurring its co-founders to think bigger, while also providing them with access to a wider luxury network. “Through Bidayat, we were able to connect with people who understand the global luxury space deeply, from buyers and partners to mentors in Europe and the region,” Mounaz and Aya say. “That kind of exposure takes years to build, and it helped us sharpen our international roadmap. The second major influence was on the operational and strategic side. Bidayat offered very involved support, not only advice from a distance. We had direct access to experience from people who had worked with established European luxury houses such as Valentino and Balmain, and who understood everything from brand positioning to retail execution and market entry. This translated into very practical guidance on how to grow in a structured way, while staying true to our identity.”

Critically, however, the sisters note that Okhtein was not built exclusively for an Arab audience, and their belief in the brand’s global reach was validated when international celebrities like Beyoncé, Gigi Hadid, and the Kardashians were spotted sporting their handbags. “On a personal level, it was a beautiful validation that we were on the right path,” Mounaz and Aya say. “When we started in 2014, it was very rare to see an Egyptian brand endorsed in Hollywood; so, it felt like a pioneering moment, not just for us, but for what an Egyptian brand can represent globally.” In fact, as the co-founders themselves acknowledge, Okhtein’s global audience tends to fall into one of two groups: Arabs who are proud of their culture and want to wear something that reflects it, and international clients who are curious and open to discovering more about the region. “Through Okhtein, we feel there is a beautiful cultural exchange happening,” they add. “People are engaging with Arab design, history, and craftsmanship through the medium of fashion, and that dialogue is incredibly meaningful to us.”

Okhtein store at Cairo’s Grand Egyptian Museum.

As Okhtein has grown and increasingly gained attention from an international audience, it has also shifted how customers across the region perceive the brand. “We always believed that an Egyptian brand with a very rooted identity could speak to women everywhere, long before these moments happened,” the sisters say. “What those moments really shifted was how many people on the outside perceived Okhtein. For some, we had been seen as just another local brand until they saw our designs on the international stage, and suddenly, it became clear that an Egyptian brand with an Arab identity can stand confidently beside global names. It confirmed that the journey of a bag that starts in Cairo does not have to stop at regional borders. It can live in wardrobes all over the world."

Pictured in the lead image are Okhtein co-founders Aya and Mounaz Abdelraouf. All images courtesy Okhtein.

This article first appeared in the December 2025-January 2026 issue of Inc. Arabia. To read the full issue online, click here.