Naida Akaeva

Bio

Naida Akaeva is a jewelry designer, educator, and metals artist based in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Originally from Dagestan, Russia, she earned her B.A. in Jewelry Design & Manufacturing from the Dagestan Art College named after M.A. Dzhemal, followed by an M.F.A. in Art Metal from Moscow State Stroganov University of Design and Applied Arts. Her academic and creative foundation bridges traditional metalsmithing with modern design methodologies, shaping her multidisciplinary approach to teaching and practice.

Naida has spent more than a decade contributing to higher education in the UAE. As an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Zayed University’s College of Arts and Creative Enterprises (2012–2020; 2025-present), she taught a wide range of studio courses—including Jewelry Design, Jewelry Manufacturing, Drawing 1, Principles of Design, and Art Foundations. She developed curricula, mentored students at various academic levels, co-taught cross-disciplinary courses, and facilitated collaborations with local industries and the creative community. She also played a key role in establishing the ZU Jewelry Studio, working closely with procurement, health and safety teams, and coordinating industry-focused field trips. Her commitment to student development extended beyond the classroom through public lectures, workshops, and representation of Zayed University at design forums and conferences in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Alongside her university work, Naida serves as a Jewelry Design & Manufacturing Instructor at Al Marsam Al Hor under the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (2009-2020; 2025–present). There, she founded the Jewellery Design and Manufacturing Studio, designed multi-level training programs, and led numerous courses, workshops, demonstrations, and competitions. Her outreach efforts helped cultivate a vibrant local community of emerging jewelry designers.

Naida’s work and professional contributions have been recognized through numerous national and international honors. In 2025, she was one of the winners of the WADA International Jewellery Design Competition in Dubai and served as a jury member for the Ebda’a International Jewellery Design Competition in Abu Dhabi. Her earlier recognitions include serving as a panelist at the Middle East Jewellery Design Forum (VOD Dubai) in 2018–2019-2025, jury member for the VOD Dubai Jewellery Design Competition (2017), and Jewelry Expert at the Emirates Skills National Competition (2015, 2017). She is also a past winner of the Dubai International Jewelry Week Design Competition (2012) and has been consistently acknowledged for her involvement in the region’s jewelry design community.

Her artistic practice has been showcased internationally, most recently in the 2024 duo exhibition Natura Vitrea in Zaragoza, Spain. Previous exhibitions include her solo show Art 2 Wear (2019) –Abu Dhabi, and group exhibitions at Art Hub Gallery, Etihad Gallery, and Zayed University’s Faculty Exhibition.

Passionate about fostering creativity and craftsmanship, Naida continues to mentor emerging designers and contribute to the evolving landscape of jewelry design and applied arts across the UAE.

Office

Abu Dhabi - Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi

Phone:

+971 2 599 3558

Email:

Teaching Areas

Art Foundations, Principles of Design, Jewellery Design, Drawing 1