With raven hair, doe eyes, and ferocious charm, Hala Abdallah is a common name and face in the Saudi influencer scene. With her toes dipped in many fields—first as an architect, then as a content creator and now, founder and designer of OFA Jewelry—one aspect has remained unchanged: her love for design. So it was no surprise when InterContinental Hotels & Resorts announced Abdallah as the face and co-curator of their Middle Eastern feature of their global Doors Unlocked series; she’s a natural fit with expertise in two industries primarily focused on design.
The Doors Unlocked series is an initiative by InterContinental, opening literal and metaphorical doors around the world. Focused primarily during cultural moments, it’s an initiative to get insider access in collaboration with local tastemakers that embody the essence of each region. From London Fashion Week to the Tokyo Film Festival and now, Dubai Design Week, Abdallah and Doors Unlocked have turned InterContinental Dubai Festival City into a canvas of creative spectacle, proving an understanding of Dubai’s cultural tapestry as Dubai Design Week spotlights the same.
The launch of the Doors Unlocked experience was celebrated last Tuesday at French fine dining restaurant, Pierre’s TT where Hala hosted guests to an intimate dinner, building on the excitement and tension of the Doors Unlocked series.
In this interview, we go further behind the scenes, asking the designer about her approach to Doors Unlocked and her first love: design.
Take us back to the beginning. How did you feel when you were first approached to be a part of Doors Unlocked?
I was genuinely excited when I was approached to be part of Doors Unlocked because design has always been such an important part of my life. I thought it was amazing to be able to celebrate not only my brand but also Dubai Design Week with people I truly admire in the industry. Doors Unlocked is all about giving guests insider access to cultural events. That philosophy really resonates with me because both architecture and jewellery design are about creating spaces for connection and creativity. So becoming the face of the Middle East chapter felt like a natural extension of my work.
As a Co-curator, what has been your design philosophy behind curating this experience?
I wanted the experience to feel interactive, intimate, and inspiring, something people could connect with in their own way. Drawing from Doors Unlocked’s ethos of behind-the-scenes access, I focused on fluidity rather than rigid structure. The idea was to design a journey that unfolds naturally, much like exploring a hidden lounge or discovering a hotel suite that tells a story.
For those looking forward to the experience, what key aspects should they keep an eye out for?
Expect a creative and emotional journey that feels deeply personal. It’s about slowing down and really experiencing the art, the setting, and the people who make Dubai’s creative scene so dynamic.
As an architect-turned-jewellery designer, designing has been a significant part of your life. Are there any key design principles that you stick to, or have they changed over time as you switched industries?
For me, everything starts with inspiration, whether that’s architecture or jewellery. So it’s the same process. I don’t like rules, and in the jewellery business, there aren’t many, so that gives me freedom to think outside the box and create what I really love. As I grow, this core idea hasn’t shifted; it’s evolved. I keep the foundational spark of inspiration and let it flow, which allows for bolder experimentation.
Design is often closely tied to storytelling, creativity, and building human connections. As a designer and someone who has built a strong community on social media, how do you see these elements intersecting in your work?
Everything I create is connected! My work, my creativity, and my community all feed into one another. I love sharing my process online and getting immediate feedback, it keeps the dialogue alive.
And that same energy is how I would define Doors Unlocked too. It turns storytelling into real-world experiences, connecting guests with tastemakers and creatives. My community becomes part of that journey, from digital conversations to in-person encounters, and that connection travels across screens and borders alike.
