Aala Sharfi is a Dubai-based Design Director working at the intersection of branding, narrative and cultural context.
With over 10 years of experience, she develops identity systems for organisations operating at cultural, civic and commercial scale, crafting work that is both visually resonant and grounded in place.
Her practice is informed by research and spatial thinking, shaped by a background in architecture and a Master of Design. She is the co-founder of Locale, an independent platform exploring socio-political narratives through publication and exhibition in collaboration with King’s College London, the British Council and the Goethe-Institut. Locale was recognised as part of the Dazed 100 (2025).
Clients include Cartier, Fairmont, Raffles, Dubai Holding, Accor Hospitality, Jumeirah, Etihad Rail, Taraf, SITE, KAUST, Abu Dhabi Government Media Office and the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation.
With over 10 years of experience, she develops identity systems for organisations operating at cultural, civic and commercial scale, crafting work that is both visually resonant and grounded in place.
Her practice is informed by research and spatial thinking, shaped by a background in architecture and a Master of Design. She is the co-founder of Locale, an independent platform exploring socio-political narratives through publication and exhibition in collaboration with King’s College London, the British Council and the Goethe-Institut. Locale was recognised as part of the Dazed 100 (2025).
Clients include Cartier, Fairmont, Raffles, Dubai Holding, Accor Hospitality, Jumeirah, Etihad Rail, Taraf, SITE, KAUST, Abu Dhabi Government Media Office and the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation.
York University, Toronto, Canada
GDA Summer Sessions
ArtEZ University of the Arts, The Netherlands
Bachelor of Architecture
University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
BOND, UAE
Oct 2024 - Present
Designer
BOND, UAE
Oct 2019 - Sept 2024
Design Associate
Saul Studio, UK
Aug 2018
Design Intern
Fikra Design Studio, UAE
Oct 2015 - Jan 2016