About Kayali
Kayali is a luxury fragrance brand founded in 2018 by Mona Kattan, co-founder of Huda Beauty. The brand draws on Middle Eastern fragrance traditions, particularly the practice of layering scents, and presents them in a modern, internationally appealing way. Kayali is derived from an Arabic word linked to imagination.
Fragrance has deep cultural roots in the Gulf. Oud, amber, musk and rose are staples of regional perfumery, and many people layer oils, perfumes and incense to create a personal signature scent. Kayali built its brand around this idea, designing fragrances that can be worn alone or combined with others from the range.
The brand's perfumes are often identified by name and number, and its collections include sweet, floral, woody and gourmand scents. Many of its fragrances have gained large followings online, with customers sharing layering combinations and reviews on social media.
Kayali sells through its own online store and through major beauty retailers in the Middle East and internationally. Like Huda Beauty, it relies heavily on digital marketing and creator content to introduce new launches, with Mona Kattan herself playing a visible role in presenting the brand.
Packaging and presentation are an important part of the product. Distinctive bottles designed to feel like collectible objects help the brand stand out on shelves and in online content.
The Middle East is one of the most important fragrance markets in the world, with consumers spending heavily on perfume and treating it as an essential part of daily life. Dubai is also a major hub for fragrance retail and distribution.
The success of Kayali shows how brands rooted in regional traditions can find global audiences when they are presented with a contemporary identity and strong digital marketing.
Kayali is one of the most recognisable fragrance brands launched from Dubai in recent years, and Startups UAE lists it among the country's consumer e-commerce brands.
Fragrance has deep cultural roots in the Gulf. Oud, amber, musk and rose are staples of regional perfumery, and many people layer oils, perfumes and incense to create a personal signature scent. Kayali built its brand around this idea, designing fragrances that can be worn alone or combined with others from the range.
The brand's perfumes are often identified by name and number, and its collections include sweet, floral, woody and gourmand scents. Many of its fragrances have gained large followings online, with customers sharing layering combinations and reviews on social media.
Kayali sells through its own online store and through major beauty retailers in the Middle East and internationally. Like Huda Beauty, it relies heavily on digital marketing and creator content to introduce new launches, with Mona Kattan herself playing a visible role in presenting the brand.
Packaging and presentation are an important part of the product. Distinctive bottles designed to feel like collectible objects help the brand stand out on shelves and in online content.
The Middle East is one of the most important fragrance markets in the world, with consumers spending heavily on perfume and treating it as an essential part of daily life. Dubai is also a major hub for fragrance retail and distribution.
The success of Kayali shows how brands rooted in regional traditions can find global audiences when they are presented with a contemporary identity and strong digital marketing.
Kayali is one of the most recognisable fragrance brands launched from Dubai in recent years, and Startups UAE lists it among the country's consumer e-commerce brands.