E-Paper
Sign In
Dubai jeweller Kiara opens its first international store in the Maldives
The Maldives location places the brand within a resort environment known for privacy and understated luxury
- PUBLISHED: Sat 10 Jan 2026, 12:34 PM
- Share:
Kiara Jewellery has opened its tenth store at JA Manafaru Island Resort & Spa in the Maldives, marking the brand’s first location outside the UAE. The opening took place on December 28, 2025 with founders Sonal Panday and Ada Panday in attendance.
Founded in Dubai four years ago, Kiara has grown from a single showroom into a network of nine stores across the city. The brand is led by the mother-and-daughter duo, whose focus has remained on everyday fine jewellery designed to mark personal moments rather than seasonal trends. Over time, Kiara has built a steady local following, serving more than 20,000 clients in the UAE.
Recommended For You
The Maldives location places the brand within a resort environment known for privacy and understated luxury. JA Manafaru, a five-star island resort, attracts an international clientele seeking seclusion and slower-paced experiences — a setting that aligns with Kiara’s approach to jewellery as something worn and kept, rather than collected.
For the founders, the decision to open in the Maldives was shaped by the destination itself rather than by retail expansion alone. They describe the islands as a place associated with light, calm, and meaningful milestones — qualities reflected in the brand’s name, Kiara, which means “light.”
"This is just the beginning of an exciting journey," Sonal Panday and Ada Panday said at the opening.
The Maldives store represents a measured step beyond the UAE for Kiara, introducing the brand to an international audience while maintaining the same scale and sensibility that has defined its growth so far.
