Ramadan and Eid are coming up, which means it is officially gifting season again. If you are aiming for something more thoughtful than another gift set from the mall, you are in luck — the Middle East is full of designers turning cultural references and traditional craft into beautiful homeware. Here are some local picks to bookmark before the celebrations begin.

For beautifully made pieces with a story behind them, Orient 499 is hard to beat. The Beirut-born brand has spent nearly two decades working with artisans across Lebanon — from coppersmiths and carpenters to embroiderers and glassmakers — creating objects that honour regional craftsmanship. Their brass tableware makes particularly thoughtful gifts: hand-hammered trays, sculptural fish plates and butter dishes that feel like modern heirlooms. All pieces are handmade, ethically produced and quietly luxurious — ideal for someone who appreciates craft and character.

Known as the founder of Dubai’s OKA ceramics studio, Mitra Moser also creates her own line of understated, functional homeware. Her ceramics make excellent gifts: the Dalia Bottle for olive oil or dressings, minimalist vases with curved silhouettes, and the charming Dalmatian Arabic Coffee Cup — a beautiful nod to regional coffee culture. Each piece is handmade, tactile and designed to be used every day, ticking the box for both beauty and function.

If you search for a gift that sparks conversation, Cairopolitan is the name to know. The Cairo-based design studio celebrates the objects of everyday Egyptian life, reimagining them with irony, nostalgia and a sharp contemporary edge. Their salt and pepper shakers — shaped like milk bottles, clay amphoras or classic “zeer” coolers — make witty, culturally rooted gifts that bring a bit of Cairo’s personality to the table.

Egypt’s rich visual language underpins every piece at Knana, a homeware brand inspired by the country’s history, craft and storytelling. Their colourful glassware — including Mashrabeya tumblers, Arabian coffee sets and vibrant Ola cups — adds instant warmth to any table. It is the kind of gift that blends everyday usefulness with a subtle cultural narrative, making it both easy to love and distinctly regional.

Built on the idea of creating modern Middle Eastern pieces made to last, Zarina works with Lebanese designers and artisans to craft tableware that is refined and timeless. From porcelain dinnerware to metal serveware and decorative canisters, the designs balance tradition with a contemporary feel that elevates anything from daily rituals to festive gatherings.

For scent lovers, YEDĀ’s Tide Collection offers candles, diffusers and even a sculptural mabkhara inspired by the movement of the ocean. Designed by Jawaher Almutairi and Meera Almazrooei, the pieces take cues from shifting tides, coastal colours and the harmony between sea and shore. It is a calming, design-led gift idea that will also sit beautifully on a shelf.