Bahraini designer Fatima Ahmed Al Maidan is making waves in the world of interior design for yachts and is looking to expand her horizons

When Bahraini yachting enthusiast Isa Abdul Rahim received an award for his new superyacht Serenity at the 2015 edition of the Monaco Yacht Show, it was a proud moment not just for him but also his wife, Fatima Ahmed Al Maidan, the inspiration behind the boat’s stunning interiors.

Built by Italy’s Mondomarine (and previewed in Arabian Knight’s summer 2015 edition), the 42.33-m-long SF40 yacht won the award from Italian leather specialist Foglizzo for the ‘Best Custom Leather Application 2015’ at the event, which was held in Port Hercules in September.

And with the Serenity shortlisted for further success at the upcoming World Superyacht Awards and the Show Boat Design Awards – two of the most prestigious events in the yachting industry – it would appear that Fatima is well on her way to being acknowledged as designer of repute in the highly challenging and elite world of yacht interior design.

A mother of three, Fatima was born in Bahrain and spent her childhood in the UAE before coming back to Bahrain and graduating with a degree in Office Management from the University of Bahrain.

Though she has no formal education in interior design, Fatima says that the world of fashion and design has always been close to her heart, and that she began to take it more seriously after her early forays into interior design won plaudits from admirers.

“Fashion has always been my passion and along with it came a love for interior design,” Fatima tells Arabian Knight, adding that a few years ago, she decided to test the waters with “a few touches” on some interior projects which were liked by a number of people, encouraging her to “push it further”.

“I have not taken courses in interior design but I generally adopt an unconventional approach which makes my projects appealing,” she reveals.

The SF40 was Fatima’s third foray into yacht interiors, following her work on two other yachts – a Benetti 105 and Riviera 77 – in collaboration with SFL Design.

Having shown her flair and skill on the 32-m Benetti 105, SFL Design were so impressed that they asked her to officially come on board for the subsequent two projects, the Riviera 77 and the SF40.

“SFL Design and I have so far worked on three projects: the interiors of the Benetti 105, the interior and exterior restyling of the Riviera 77, and the Mondomarine SF40,” she elaborates. 

For the Riviera 77, Fatima and the team converted the 27-m-long sports fishing boat into a luxury yacht that would suit the needs of the GCC region.

The Riviera 77, which has its home base in Bahrain, was presented at the 2015 Dubai Boat Show and received critical acclaim. “It was one of the stars at the show,” she says.

Fatima and SFL Design are now working on their latest project – the SF60 – which adds to Mondomarine’s SF series which includes the SF30, SF35, and SF40, in addition to some other projects.

“SFL Design and I have a co-operation agreement with Mondomarine for future projects,” she says. “We are currently working on few other projects but since this line of business is about dealing with very high-profile clients, confidentiality is of the essence.”

For the SF40, Fatima and SFL Design worked alongside the yacht’s talented Italian designer Luca Vallebona as well as SF Yachts, to deliver the project to the client’s demanding specifications.

A yacht services company based in Dubai, SF Yachts specialises in consultancy and management as well as brokerage and charter and is also the Italian shipyard’s agent for sales in the Middle East.

“The SF40 was unique,” says Fatima, pointing out that they had to design the public areas of the luxury superyacht without compromising on the owner’s preferences and specifications for absolute privacy.  “It was a challenge meeting the different requirements put by the owner.” 

With the owner insistent that privacy be paramount, Fatima and the team worked on designing a layout that would keep the crew totally separated from the owner’s and guests areas so there would be “zero interference”.

Serenity is also distinguished from other yachts in its category by its secret passages, and exceptional owner’s cabin and ample internal space. 

“At 499 GRT, Serenity is the biggest 40-m yacht ever built,” she says.

For the project, Fatima and SFL Design chose to go with a modern interiors theme and the very best of furniture and finishes to match the pure exterior lines of the boat.

“It was not an easy task,” she says, adding that they sourced the finest of materials “from all over the world”.

Fatima says working on the SF40 proved to be very interesting in which “different cultures and themes” were introduced, making the yacht a true “work of art”.

“It’s been challenging to say the least, as I had to combine responsibilities of being a mother, a company owner and an interior designer. The SF40 is considered a luxurious home on the water and we had to make sure that everything used offered a feeling of comfort and harmony.”

Fatima’s work has not been limited to yachts, as she has executed interiors for upscale residential homes and commercial offices in Bahrain.

She has also designed her stunning home in the kingdom, a true labour of love. Nestled in a quiet area of Janabiya, the imposing home sports a wooden log façade, with a moat flowing around the home and opening up into a swimming pool.

Inside, wood continues to dominate the walls and roofs, offering comfort and warmth, while velvet fabrics, stone floors, chandeliers, plush carpets, ornate sofas, mirrors and a 12-seater dining table come together to create an atmosphere of sheer opulence across the reception, living room and formal dining areas. 

“My husband always wanted a log house as he had a passion for old cowboy movies. Building a house like this in Bahrain was a challenge. The house has wooden beams, vintage doors, vintage chandeliers and lights and textiles. Everything fitted in the house has been sourced from different countries,” Fatima says.

With three yachting successes now under her belt, Fatima is looking ahead to winning more business in this highly-demanding market, as word of her talents spreads.

She is also looking forward to enjoying sailing in Europe on the new Serenity with her family, once the yacht is delivered at the end of the year.

“My husband works in the oil sector and heads the Middle East office of one of the largest oil trading companies in the world. His work involves a great deal of travel and he sees the sea as the only place that gives him peace of mind and takes him away from the day-to-day pressures of work. This is why we are passionate about the sea,” she concludes.