Bvlgari marks Emirati Women’s Day with ‘The Girl I Needed’, an original short film

For more than six years, Bvlgari has marked this day through story-telling initiatives dedicated to the lives and achievements of women in the UAE

Dubai: For Emirati Women’s Day on August 28, 2026, Roman maison Bvlgari launched a campaign, including an original short film titled ‘The Girl I Needed’, to honour women in the United Arab Emirates whose lessons, values and encouragement continue to leave a lasting imprint.

The film formed the centrepiece of Bvlgari’s Emirati Women’s Day campaign, created in partnership with Emirati cultural visionary and Cinema Akil founder Butheina Kazim. The campaign explored how one woman’s influence can travel through generations, shaping how those who follow understand themselves and their place in the world.

‘The Girl I Needed’ was written and directed by Taqwa Bint Ali, whose work explores human experience, emotion, culture and identity. The story develops through personal moments, allowing its message to emerge through the central character’s journey.

The film follows a young Emirati woman named Mariam from childhood into adulthood. Rather than presenting empowerment as a straightforward progression towards confidence, the story unfolds through moments of uncertainty, courage, reflection and self-acceptance.

As Mariam grows, the values carried by the women around her become part of the person she is becoming. Their influence is reflected in her choices and in how she learns to accept her identity. The narrative also recognizes the forms of resilience that exist within families, where strength is passed on through guidance, example and ancestral knowledge.

The campaign reflects the 2026 Emirati Women’s Day theme, ‘Together, We Rise Stronger and Better’ announced by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the ‘Mother of the Nation’. It celebrates the collective journey of Emirati women and their role as leaders, mentors and builders of future generations.

For more than six years, Bvlgari has marked Emirati Women’s Day through story-telling initiatives dedicated to the lives and achievements of women in the UAE. This year’s film continues that work while placing the relationship between generations at the centre of the conversation.

Emirati Women’s Day is celebrated annually on August 28 to honour the achievements, contributions and leadership of women across the United Arab Emirates. It was started in 2015 to acknowledge women as essential partners in national progress and commemorates the 1975 founding of the UAE’s General Women’s Union.

Founded in Rome in 1884 by Greek silversmith Sotirios Voulgaris, Bvlgari is an Italian jewellery house with more than 320 retail locations worldwide, including flagship stores, directly operated shops and authorized partners.

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