History of salons in Dubai, UAE

Today beauty salons, nail salons and spas have become a daily need for lots of people around the world and in the GCC region, it’s thriving and trending. Likewise, Dubai has got the world’s most luxurious salon and spa. Let’s dive into the history of salons before Marth Matilda Harper brought the new trend in the salon industry.  Before that time hair dress had to visit the customer’s house to provide the service. The modern era of salons and spas can be traced below; 

To know about the history of beauty salons in the world we have to go back to the 18th century in North America. Marth Matilda Harper is known to be the founder of the beauty salon in Rochester, New York in 1888. By 1928 there were about 500 beauty salons operating under her company Harper Method Inc. The astonishing fact is that Martha used to be a house servant for over 25 years where she learn the technique of making organic products for hair care. Later she formalized it and invented the first hair conditioner ( hair tonic)  in the history of the hair salon industry.

The value and need of beauty salons have changed over time. At first, these were places in which only cosmetic and hairdressing services were provided. And, given the fact that their number was very limited, then the clients spent little time in them. The development of technologies and their availability for the beauty industry has allowed to expansion of the range of services and increase the time men and women spend in these institutions. For example, the appearance of electricity in beauty salons took this business to a new level. The most popular service was a perm, which lasted about six months. In 1906, the first curling machine was introduced, which was a machine equipped with heated metal rods. However, only owners of long curls could pamper themselves with this hairstyle. For women with short hair, this procedure could threaten severe scalp burns. In any case, technological innovation has become a unique feature of beauty salons in the USA and Europe up to the 1930s. By this time, there were other new items: electric pliers, and a hair dryer.

Background of a beauty salon in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Beauty parlours and salons have a rich history in the UAE, dating back to the early 20th century when the country was still under British colonial rule. However, the beauty industry really began to flourish in the 1970s and 1980s when the UAE started to develop rapidly, attracting expatriates from all over the world. During this time, beauty salons began to pop up all over the country, catering to the growing demand for grooming services. Many of these salons were run by women for women, offering services such as haircuts, manicures, pedicures, facials, and makeup applications. In fact, beauty salons became so popular that they became an essential part of everyday life for many Emirati women.

As the UAE continued to grow and modernize, so too did its beauty industry. Today, the country is home to some of the most luxurious and high-end beauty salons in the world, catering to a diverse clientele from all over the world. These salons offer a wide range of services, from traditional beauty treatments to more specialized services such as laser hair removal, Botox injections, and cosmetic surgery. In addition to traditional beauty salons, the UAE also has a growing number of mobile beauty services that cater to clients who prefer to have their treatments done in the comfort of their own homes or offices. These services are particularly popular among busy professionals who don’t have time to visit a salon. The urban company hold the top position in facilitating home service in Dubai. Overall, the beauty industry in the UAE continues to thrive and evolve, with new trends and technologies constantly emerging. Whether you’re a resident or a visitor to the UAE, you’re sure to find a beauty salon or service that caters to your needs and preferences.

Parisian Ladies Salon – 1950s
It is stated that the Parisian Ladies Salon was the first salon to operate in Dubai, in the 1950s by a French woman named Madame Denise. Her salon used to give beauty service as hair styling manicures and facials which became very popular among Emirati women at that time. The salon was located in the Al Ghurair Centre, which was one of the first shopping malls to be built in the UAE. Al Ghurair Mall was built by Al Ghurair Group in 1981 in the heart of old Dubai, Deira under the chairmanship of Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair.

According to some reports, Madame Denise was a skilled hair stylist who had previously worked at a high-end salon in Paris before moving to Dubai. She quickly became known for her attention to detail and personalized service, and her salon soon became a popular destination for women seeking beauty treatments. Although the Parisian Ladies Salon is no longer in operation, it is remembered as an important part of Dubai’s history and the development of the beauty industry in the UAE.

After that many beauty salons came into operation and they are now the biggest salon chain business in the Middle East.
Tips & Toes: Tips & Toes was founded in 1988 by Asma Al Fahim and quickly expanded to multiple locations across the UAE. Tips & Toes offers a wide range of beauty services, including hair styling, nail care, waxing, and facials. By September 2021, Tips & Toes had over 35 branches across the UAE, with plans to expand further.
During this time period, Tips and Toes have graved some prestigious awards too:
* In 2015, Tips & Toes was named “Best Beauty Salon” at the annual What’s On Awards in Dubai.
* In 2017, Tips & Toes won the “Best Nail Salon” award at the Grazia Style Awards in Dubai.

Sisters Beauty Lounge: Sisters Beauty Lounge was founded in 2004 by Shirin Abdulrazak and her sisters. It also became popular among the people and has developed its branches in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other states. By September 2021 it stated that Sisters Beauty Lounge had 6 branches in the UAE, and the number of branches has been growing since then. Sisters Beauty Lounge have a team of “over 250 professionally trained staff” who provide a range of beauty services to their clients. Such as hair, makeup, nails, and spa treatments.
Awards awarded to Sister Beauty Laouge:
In 2016, Sisters Beauty Lounge won the “Best Luxury Spa” award at the World Luxury Spa Awards.
In 2019, Sisters Beauty Lounge was named “Best Beauty Salon” at the Time Out Dubai Awards.

N.Bar: N.Bar was founded in 2001, by sisters Negin and Naro Fattahi. N.Bar is a chain of beauty salons that offers nail care services including manicures, pedicures, and nail extensions. The salon has several locations across the UAE. Awards won by N-Bar so far are:
Best Nail Salon, Time Out Dubai Spa Awards – multiple years, including 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2017.
Best Luxury Nail Bar, Middle East Beauty Awards – 2014.
Best Nail Salon, Grazia Style Awards – 2014.
Best Nail Salon, Cosmopolitan Middle East Beauty Awards – 2015.
Best Nail Salon, Harper’s Bazaar Beauty Awards – 2016.
In 2019, N.Bar won the “Best Nail Salon” award at the Professional Beauty GCC Awards in Dubai.
In 2021, N.Bar was named “Best Nail Salon” at the Time Out Dubai Awards.
N.Bar is known for providing high-quality nail and beauty services across its multiple branches in the UAE and has been recognized by various publications and organizations for its excellence in the industry.

Maison De Joelle: Maison De Joelle was founded by Joelle Mardinian, a renowned beauty expert and celebrity makeup artist, in 2008. The first Maison De Joelle salon was opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Since then, Maison De Joelle has expanded rapidly and now has multiple branches across the Middle East, including in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. However, the exact number of branches is not publicly disclosed.
Awards graved by Maison De Joelle so far are:
2018: Best Beauty Salon, Time Out Dubai
2018: Best Hair Salon, Cosmopolitan Middle East Beauty Awards
2018: Best Beauty Influencer, Arab Women Awards
2019: Best Beauty Salon, Time Out Dubai
2019: Best Hair Salon, Cosmopolitan Middle East Beauty Awards
2020: Best Beauty Influencer, Cosmopolitan Middle East Beauty Awards

When we come to today’s date, Salon and Spa business is booming in UAE, especially in Dubai. All international salon investors are looking forward to operating salons and spas in Dubai.
Valerie Reynaert writes in Entrepreneur Middle East magazine, “ The UAE cosmetics market alone is forecast to cross US$3 billion by 2025 on account of the increasing demand from the youth population, growing adoption of global cultures and lifestyles, and an increasing number of beauty salons across the country.” She publishes an article on 30th September 2022. Whereas the global cosmetics market size is expected to reach US$48.04 billion in value by 2025 according to a recent report by Grand View Research.  So are you the one who is dreaming to open a salon and spa business in Abu Dhabi, if so you can get a glim of an article and guidelines on, “Starting a salon in Abu Dhabi here are the Guidelines for hiring salon staff in Abu Dhabi!” After Dubai, the next hub for salons and spas in Abu Dhabi and more importantly Abu Dhabi Government is investing 10 times more in the tourism industry than usual. According to the reports of national news, there are more than 15000 salons and spas operating in UAE and Dubai alone owns more than 5000 of them, this was reported in 2021.

Are you tired of searching for the perfect candidate for your salon and spa, here are the guidelines to hire from a salon staff agency which provides a range of staff to salons, including hairdressers, nail technicians, manicurists, pedicurists, beauty therapists, makeup artists, receptionists, cashiers, salon cleaners, and salon managers. Hire salon and spa staff from Nepal.