Rana AlDabbagh started Romnah Subhas in 2001 to provide elegant Subhas or Islamic prayer beads to the older generation.
“I would also like to inspire the younger generation to do the Tasbiha (the act of praying using the beads). So, we make the Subhah fashionable and elegant so they can double as an accessory,” AlDabbagh told Arab News.
The prayer beads are often a companion to users, women carry them in their bags or wrap them around their hands and men carry them in their pockets.
From Makkah, AlDabbagh said that she has grown up with the history of the holy city and its rich tradition has inspired many of the company’s pieces.
AlDabbagh demonstrated her creative flair when she changed the conventional design of the Subhah by transforming it into something more personal. One of her most popular designs is “Key of the Ka’bah.”
The entrepreneur said that she began making Subhas and accessories for herself as a channel for her artistic energy, which started attracting the attention of people around her. “The uniqueness in my pieces comes from the heritage items I incorporate,” she said, adding: “I always stay in the loop to know what is and is not trendy. However, I never imitate those things to maintain the uniqueness.”
The business is now over two-decades old and AlDabbagh said her business has gone through many challenges over the years. When she started, launching a business without a male figure as a guardian was not possible. However, she is relieved that now she can freely run her own business.
AlDabbagh found early on that being an artist and running a business require many different skills. “I am not good at marketing or the business side of things. I think that my prices are lower than other people in the market, but I am still learning,” she said.
The businesswoman said that her biggest achievement is her company’s longevity, despite the many challenges hurled at her. She is hoping to build on the success of her pieces and open a souvenir shop.
Instagram handle: @romnah_
