Women of the UAE: Hala Kazim

Before she started helping others, Hala Kazim had to first find her own happiness. She found it through loving herself and taking control of her own destiny.

Emirati Hala Kazim released her first book, Hala wa Taghyeer (Hala and Change), this year, encouraging women to love themselves and to find happiness. Sarah Dea / The National

DUBAI // Twenty years before she started guiding women towards their paths to happiness, Hala Kazim embarked on a journey that had stemmed from depression.

“I had lost myself and I started to see a therapist who brought me back to life,” said the Emirati. “This was the start of my journey to finding my passion in life.

“After working hard on myself and feeling stable in where I was, I realised that my passion was helping others.”

Ms Kazim, a Dubai resident, said that while depression can be one of the most painful things a person can go through, she was grateful for the disease, which, she added, contributed to her own success.

“I started going on trips on my own to explore Hala and learn about Hala, to learn what I want, how I want and why I want,” said Ms Kazim, who released her first book, Hala wa Taghyeer (Hala and Change), this year.

After finding what she called “her calling” during a trek of Spain’s El Camino de Santiago, Ms Kazim wanted to share her experiences with other women.

“I am the only person in the Arab world that combines hiking with counselling and with workshops. I am not a psychiatrist or psychologist, and I want to make sure that people know most of my work is from my experience.”

Ms Kazim studied in the US and UK, where she specialised in consulting and public social nervousness. However, she says that her clients want to see more than just “a certificate on the wall”.

“People want to know that you have been through what they’re going through, and I can connect with women because I am a woman just like them and I let them know that I am not perfect,” she said. “I am sick and tired of people pretending to be perfect. We are human.”

Ms Kazim’s programme, Journey Through Change, encourages women to love themselves and find what makes them happy.

“Loving yourself doesn’t mean in an unhealthy, selfish way. Once you love yourself, you love people more. Once you’re happy, you can spread happiness,” she said. “Loving yourself is not an expensive handbag; if you love yourself and have an expensive handbag that’s a bonus.

“I can tell you from my experience when I was depressed that no amount money, no jewellery, nothing could make me happy when I was so miserable inside.”

She encouraged Arab women to stop feeling that they are victims and to take responsibility and control over their destinies, “especially in the UAE, where we have one of the best governments in the world, and where our government encourages women to do everything”.

In marriage matters, she said that women should not be misled by the media. “Marriage is one part of life, not your entire life. A man, a job, children, friends, they are all compartments of life,” said the Dubai native, who married for a second time at the age of 40.

“Your life is like a regular salary that comes into your account. If a good man comes, he’s a bonus, and if he’s not there, your salary keeps on coming. No one should depend on their man for happiness.” Ms Kazim said her calling to help women be happy contributed to the overall community.

“Women are part of the community. She’s a mother, grandmother, a sister, wife. What better way to help the community than make a main aspect of it happy and positive.”