Finding her land of peace

Dubai make-up artist offers more than her skills to clients

Smoky eyes and glossy lips are a few of Sabah Bouarfa's specialities. As make-up artist for Make Up For Ever at Paris Gallery, she has more than just her techniques to offer to clients.

Her sincere smile, willingness to adapt and ability to listen sets her apart from others in her field. However, what is even more intriguing than her face contouring is the way Sabah landed in Dubai one year ago.

"I was born in Lyon in France, but my parents are originally from Algeria," explained Sabah. Apart from this subtle introduction, the rest of her life's story is amazing.

"My father has been married five times, and four of his wives and all the kids live together," she said smiling.

To accommodate his 40-member family, Sabah's father chose to convert a nunnery with 16 rooms into his home. Each wife had a floor to herself, and there was never any major conflict or chaos.

"This was primarily for two reasons. One was that my father is a very strong disciplinarian, and secondly, he was extremely organised," Sabah said.

Being number 25 among the whole lot, and the youngest within her real brothers and sisters, Sabah had a blissful childhood.

"While growing up, we never needed any friends. My siblings were my friends. In fact, some of us are born on the same day, so we are almost like twins," she said.

In spite of being French, Sabah never felt she belonged to that country. So as soon as she finished her beautician's course, she began looking for ways to leave Lyon. After having worked for two years in a salon in Lyon, she went to live with her brother and his family in Morocco in 1994.

"My problem was that in France I never felt I fitted in. The French thought I was Arab and the Algerians thought I was too French. I always felt there was something better out there waiting for me, but Morocco was not the solution," she explained.

Being a sensitive person, Sabah was moved by the poverty and hard life in Morocco. Soon after, she returned to France and opted to try out Spain.

"Barcelona was fun for two years, even though I did have a problem with the language at first. But I still came back home, because my heart was not content," she said.

Subsequently, she attempted to acquaint herself better with her roots and the Arabic language. So, off she went to visit her grandparents for a whole year in Algeria.

"However, the time I visited them was not really the best for the country. There was immense political tension, and it was not safe to go out after seven in the evening," she recalled.

After satisfying her cultural curiosity and sharpening her mother tongue, Sabah ultimately returned home, disappointed and dissatisfied. She was still searching for a place that would give her a permanent sense of belonging while accepting her unique individuality.

"In 2001, I decided to leave for the U.S., but friends of mine insisted I join them on a two week vacation in Dubai. I didn't even know where it was or what it was like," Sabah recalled.

After two incredible weeks here, Sabah and her friends returned home unwillingly.

"I felt like I had left a part of me behind. All of us missed Dubai tremendously. So, we pushed ourselves to take a chance and come to Dubai to live. But first we had to learn English," she said.

Sabah and her friends endured the unpleasant weather and foreign food in Ireland for three months, just to learn English.

"When I finally packed up to come here, my family thought I was mad. They were convinced I would be back in a month's time. I have been here a year now, and keep telling them to visit to understand why I love this place so much," she said.

For Sabah, life cannot be better than what it is here, especially for women. The extent to which women are respected is what gave her a pleasant surprise.

"In France, women have to be as tough as men to survive, but here people listen to you. Here, women can choose to remain feminine and not adopt false masculine overtures to achieve success," she said.

Sabah is friendly and never without a kind smile. She is the kind who spreads sunshine wherever she goes. Her regular clients appreciate her honesty and innate flair for making women look beautiful.

"It took me a while to understand how make-up is done here. Now when a woman tells me she wants a natural, day look, I do what would be considered evening make-up in France. Here, women love taking care of themselves. I have changed too. I never leave the house anymore without a little eyeliner or lipstick, even if it is to buy bread," she smiled.

Her strongest belief is: "If you feel good, you look good. And for me, Dubai is the only place in the world that has made me truly happy, so I am never leaving".