An award-winning cookbook author, food entrepreneur, and social media influencer. Zahra Abdalla is half Iranian and half Sudanese, born in London, England. Her diverse upbringing led her to live in various cities, including Khartoum, Riyadh, Vancouver, and London, before settling in Dubai 19 years ago.

In 2010, Zahra started her culinary journey with an online blog. She soon hosted her own cooking shows on MBC3 and participated in the fourth season of the food and travel documentary series, Maggi Diaries on MBC1. During Maggi Diaries, she visited Egypt, India, Spain, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia, meeting exceptional women who made significant contributions to their communities by tackling critical social issues like food waste, hunger, environmental concerns, mindfulness, and women’s empowerment.

Working from her studio, Zahra develops recipes with a modern take on traditional Middle Eastern recipes, drawing inspiration from her childhood, the region’s distinct flavours, and her extensive travels. For her, food serves as both an artistic expression and a therapeutic medium, capable of reviving cherished memories or creating new ones. Zahra is a passionate advocate for sustainability and mindfulness in food sourcing, preparation, and consumption.

Beyond her public persona, Zahra is a dedicated food entrepreneur and the founder of Zahra’s Kitchen, a retail frozen food line available at Kibsons, Talabat Mart, Organic Food Café, Butchershop, Cassinetto, and over 35 Spinneys and Waitrose locations throughout the UAE.

Zahra is married and has three young boys and a little puppy. She loves to travel, stay fit and collect art when she is not obsessing over new recipes.