Founder & CEO of KAYALI
دبي الإمارات العربية المتحدة
١٢٢ ألف متابع
أكثر من 500 زميل
نبذة عني
✨ Entrepreneur | Founder & CEO of Kayali | Beauty, Fragrance & Personal Development Enthusiast ✨
Fragrance is more than just a scent—it’s a memory in the making, a form of self-expression, and a deeply personal journey. In 2018, I launched Kayali, a fragrance brand inspired by my Middle Eastern roots and the way perfume is an essential part of culture in Dubai. The name Kayali means “my imagination” in Arabic, and my mission is to craft fragrances that unlock creativity and transport people through sensorial experiences.
Kayali is sold globally through Sephora and other prestige retailers, with headquarters in Dubai and offices in London and New York. The brand has experienced extraordinary year-over-year growth, proving the power of passion, storytelling, and innovation in the fragrance world.
From Finance to Fragrance
I was born in the United States, raised in Tennessee and Massachusetts, and have called Dubai home since 2002. My career began in investment banking after earning a Bachelor’s in Finance, but my heart was always in entrepreneurship.
I started in PR & Business Consulting and later co-founded a chain of beauty salons, which taught me invaluable lessons about building a business. In 2013, I co-founded Huda Beauty with my sisters, Huda & Alya, helping shape it into a global powerhouse. Today, my focus is on Kayali, and I’m honored to be recognized as one of the most powerful Arab women in business, helping redefine global beauty and fragrance from the Middle East.
Our Core Values: Curious, Hungry, Kind, Grateful
💡 Curious – Always learning, innovating, and embracing new perspectives.
🔥 Hungry – Passionate about growth, pushing boundaries, and fostering an entrepreneurial spirit.
💖 Kind – Leading with empathy, uplifting others, and building meaningful connections.
🙏 Grateful – Appreciating every opportunity, challenge, and success.
I call my team the Magic Makers because they truly bring dreams to life. Community is everything, and I find so much joy in supporting and connecting with others.
Beyond beauty and business, I am deeply passionate about personal growth, therapy, and healing. I believe that true success isn’t just about external achievements—it’s about self-awareness, inner peace, and continuous evolution.
If you love fragrance, beauty, business, or personal development, let’s connect and create something beautiful together!
💫 Let’s make magic happen!
النشاط
١٢٢ ألف متابع
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Mona Monica Kattan شارك ذلكThe more I travel, the more I realise that people are one of my greatest sources of inspiration 🎨 Some of the most valuable lessons in my journey with KAYALI haven’t come from a boardroom or a strategy document. They’ve come from conversations with customers, teams, partners and people I’ve met along the way. The Boujee Kitty Tour is a perfect example. Taking KAYALI into different markets and meeting our community in their own cities gave me a completely different perspective on what our brand means to people. A few things travel continues to teach me: ✨Stay curious. Every culture has a different way of seeing the world, and there’s always something to learn. ✨Listen before you lead. Some of the best insights come from simply being present and hearing directly from our community. ✨Look beyond the product. Fragrance becomes part of people’s memories, rituals and stories and seeing that firsthand constantly reminds me why we create. ✨Never underestimate connection. Despite our different backgrounds, kindness, passion and genuine human connection are universal. Building KAYALI has given me the privilege of meeting people from all over the world, and those encounters continue to shape how I think, create and lead. The best inspiration isn’t always something you can find sometimes, it’s someone you meet! 🤍
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Mona Monica Kattan شارك ذلكWhen I first started in fragrance, I thought the most important part of building a scent was getting the vision right! 💎 Over the years, I’ve learned it’s just the beginning. Building a fragrance brand has taught me that the real measure of a creation is what happens once it leaves your hands and becomes part of someone else’s life. Here’s what I can tell you: ✨Listen beyond the numbers. Consumer reactions, conversations and the way people actually use a product can reveal insights that data alone can’t. ✨Build for emotion, not just the product. The strongest fragrances become connected to memories, moods and everyday rituals, and that emotional connection is what makes them lasting. ✨Stay close to the customer. Some of my most valuable learnings have come from seeing people experience our gems for the first time and hearing what each scent means to them. ✨Give the team the credit. A vision may start with one idea, but bringing it to life takes an entire team of perfumers, creators, marketers and experts pushing it forward together. After years of building in beauty and fragrance, I still find the most rewarding moment is seeing a creation I once imagined become part of someone else’s story! What’s something you’ve created that took on a meaning beyond what you originally imagined?
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Mona Monica Kattan شارك ذلكWOOHOO!!! Congrats my lovely & brilliant Melis Kahya 💞 We are SO lucky and so grateful to have you on our KAYALI board!!!!!!!Mona Monica Kattan شارك ذلكMelis Kahya has been named to the Private Equity News Twenty Trailblazing Women list for the third year in a row. The award recognizes leading women across European and UK private equity. Melis’ selection reflects her leadership and impact across the industry, as well as her commitment to mentoring the next generation of talent. Congratulations to Melis on this well-deserved honor. For more information on the award: https://lnkd.in/gqw8yAMG
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Mona Monica Kattan شارك ذلكBehind every KAYALI launch is a team, and I’m incredibly grateful for mine! 🥹 As a founder, it’s easy for people to see the face of a brand and assume the vision starts and ends there. But after building KAYALI over the years, one of the things I’ve come to appreciate most is just how many people it takes to turn an idea into something real. From the first fragrance concept to the moment our community discovers it on shelf, there are so many hands, minds and moments behind every launch. I may be lucky enough to be the face of KAYALI, but I know that every fragrance carries the work, creativity and passion of our Magic Makers 🪄 One of the most rewarding parts of my journey has been watching this team grow alongside the brand, and seeing what we can create when we’re all working toward the same vision! To my Magic Makers: THANK YOU SO MUCH! This is your story too 🤍
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Mona Monica Kattan شارك ذلكWhen I reflect on what travelling for work has taught me, I realize so many of the biggest lessons have happened outside of the work itself. ✨ Travelling for work has been one of the most eye-opening parts of my journey. Beyond meetings, events, and launches, it’s the people, cultures, and perspectives that have shaped me the most. Over time, I’ve learned that: ✨ Every culture brings a different way of thinking and creating ✨ Listening is just as important as speaking ✨ Connection goes beyond language;, it’s about energy and intention ✨ Being adaptable is one of the most valuable skills you can have It’s reminded me that while our industries may be global, the way people experience beauty, fragrance, and connection is deeply personal. Grateful for every place, every conversation, and every lesson along the way 🤍✨
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Mona Monica Kattan شارك ذلكI’ve always believed that one of the most important investments you can make as a leader is in your people! I know firsthand how much it can mean to have someone believe in you, give you an opportunity, or simply create the space for you to discover what you’re capable of. So as @KAYALI continues to grow, it’s really important to me that our Magic Makers have the same space to learn, evolve and grow alongside the brand! That’s what inspired us to create KAYALI Academy ✨ A space designed to help our team: ✨ Learn and build new skills ✨ Grow through new opportunities ✨ Connect and share with one another ✨ Keep discovering what they’re capable of Seeing this vision come to life has been incredibly special for me, this is your spotlight, and I cannot wait to see you all step into it. I think back to the early days of KAYALI, when our team was so small and we were all learning as we went. Watching that little team grow into the Magic Makers we have today has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey! I’m so grateful to everyone who helped bring KAYALI Academy to life, especially our incredible team and @Thrive for helping us build something that I hope will continue to grow with our people 💎Mona Monica Kattan شارك ذلكThe best kind of magic is the kind you invest in! ✨ It lives in the people, ideas and passion behind everything we create! That’s why we’re giving our Magic Makers a stage of their own to learn, explore and grow: KAYALI Academy, created in partnership with Thrive! 💎 We've always believed that magic isn't made alone. It's made by people; the passion, the craft and the heart our Magic Makers pour into everything we do. It is our way of pouring that same care back into them: a home for development, connection and growth that feels as thoughtful and beautiful as the world we create together. KAYALI Academy is more than a learning platform. It's an invitation to keep growing, keep dreaming, and keep building something meaningful together, because every Magic Maker is the star of this story!
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Mona Monica Kattan شارك ذلكOne of my favorite parts of building KAYALI is creating worlds, not just products. With the launch of our Yum Lip and Body Collection, we asked ourselves a simple question: "How do we make people feel like they've stepped inside the Yum universe?" That thinking shaped everything, from introducing our first-ever body creams and lip balms to the campaign visuals, creative storytelling, and the layering ritual that brings it all together. The best brands create an emotional experience that extends far beyond the product itself. Watching this vision come to life has been incredibly rewarding, and I'm so grateful to our Magic Makers who helped make it happen! 🩷💚
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Mona Monica Kattan شارك ذلكHappy Emirati Women’s Day! 🇦🇪 Growing up in the UAE has taught me that ambition and tradition can exist side by side. I’ve been fortunate to witness Emirati women breaking boundaries, building businesses, leading organisations and creating opportunities for the generations that follow. As I reflect on my journey in business, I’m especially grateful for the opportunity to represent where I come from on the global stage and to show what is possible when you dream beyond borders! 💎 To every Emirati woman building, leading, creating and paving the way for others: your journey matters, your voice matters and the path you’re creating matters! ✨
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Mona Monica Kattan شارك ذلكThis launch is incredibly special to me! When we created @KAYALI my dream was always to build a layering routine that inspired creativity and self-expression. Over the years, our community has challenged us to think even bigger! I'm so excited to introduce our Yum Lip and Body Collection, designed to bring your favorite Yum scents into every step of your routine through body creams and lip balms that pair beautifully with our fragrances. Every formula, ingredient and detail was thoughtfully considered, and I truly hope you love this collection as much as we loved creating it. I can't wait to hear what you think! 🩷💚
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Mona Monica Kattan أضاف إعجابًا إلى ذلكMona Monica Kattan أضاف إعجابًا إلى ذلكDubai-based fragrance brand KAYALI will enter China on 15 October through more than 300 Sephora China stores and the retailer’s digital platforms. The launch follows the brand's expansion in the UK and Ireland earlier this year. The expansion marks the brand's next major chapter in Asia, with the brand aiming to become one of Sephora China’s top three fragrance brands. “Community has always been at the heart of KAYALI, so bringing our world to China, where beauty lovers are so connected, curious and expressive feels incredibly special," said Mona Monica Kattan, Founder & CEO of KAYALI. #beauty #beautynews #beautyexpansion #beautyretail #beautyretailnews | Xia Ding, Jessica Hanson, Agnès Brissiaud, Lian Hirst https://lnkd.in/eC-2czZa
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Mona Monica Kattan أضاف إعجابًا إلى ذلكMona Monica Kattan أضاف إعجابًا إلى ذلكMelis Kahya has been named to the Private Equity News Twenty Trailblazing Women list for the third year in a row. The award recognizes leading women across European and UK private equity. Melis’ selection reflects her leadership and impact across the industry, as well as her commitment to mentoring the next generation of talent. Congratulations to Melis on this well-deserved honor. For more information on the award: https://lnkd.in/gqw8yAMG
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Mona Monica Kattan أضاف إعجابًا إلى ذلك✨ A new chapter for KAYALI: Layer With Love 💕 So incredibly proud to be part of KAYALI officially stepping into abrand-new category with the launch of our YUM Lip & Body Collection, bringing our love of fragrance layering beyond scent and into a full head-to-toe ritual. Layering has always been at the heart of KAYALI, and now it starts with the skin. Our iconic Yum Boujee Marshmallow | 81 and Yum Pistachio Gelato | 33 scents can now be experienced through our new Silk Soufflé Body Creams and Cashmere Kiss Lip Balms, designed to hydrate, indulge and, of course, layer. 💕🍓🍦 And what better place to kick off this exciting new chapter than SEPHORA Germany, the home of our incredible campaign star Jenny. 🇩🇪 We kicked off the launch at Sephora Düsseldorf, layering with love with our community through an immersive experience, complete with hand and body massages and a personalised charm bar, giving everyone the opportunity to discover the textures, scents and art of layering. 💕✨ Celebrations continued over a beautiful lunch with our campaign star and her community, such a special moment to mark KAYALI’s exciting move into this new category. A huge congratulations to all our teams and SEPHORA who brought this moment, and Mona Monica Kattan's vision and dream to life. 💕 Lip & Body, Layer With Love 💕✨
الخبرة
ملفات شخصية أخرى مشابهة
استكشاف مزيد من المنشورات
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Irina Duisimbekova
Reposting this with great pride 👇 This partnership is very close to my heart. At Licorne Gulf Holding, our ambition has always been clear: to position Qatar as a bridge between regional talent and global opportunity. What we are building today with Peachscore is a concrete step in that direction. I would like to personally thank the incredible Peachscore team — especially Alexandre Mojtahedi and Peyman Shahmirzadi — for their commitment, vision, and hands-on support in helping empower local Qatari startups. This is exactly the kind of collaboration we need:✔️ Bringing global expertise into Qatar✔️ Supporting founders on the ground✔️ Creating real, cross-border opportunities We are just getting started — and I truly believe Qatar has all the ingredients to become a leading innovation hub. Let’s build 🚀 #LicorneGulf #Qatar #StartupEcosystem #Innovation #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship
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Sharad Bachani
Looking forward to this. Seed-to-scale in the UAE requires a unique mix of capital strategy, market timing, and operational discipline. Gen-Z founders need clear guidance on how to navigate accelerators, early traction, and investor expectations — and your perspective will be hugely valuable for them. Great initiative by KT+150.
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Hala Kabbara
Reposting this teaser because I truly enjoyed every moment of this conversation. Jamal’s story is inspiring — a journey of vision, trust, and real leadership. It’s about how leaders rise. It’s about the trust they place in leadership. It’s about how that trust turns into real learning. Make sure to follow LEAD Talks to catch the full episode 🎙️ #LEADTalks #Leadership
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Zeina Tabbara
Dubai-based beauty and wellness startup AÏZA by Amaani has raised $5 million in Series A funding, led by BECO Capital with participation from Homegrown Ventures and Peak XV Partners. The capital will support the expansion of its beauty brand AÏZA across the GCC, starting with Saudi Arabia, followed by Kuwait and Qatar, alongside investment in product development, talent and technology. Founded by Shubham Poddar Amaani launched AÏZA in December 2024. The company says the brand’s net revenue grew more than 9x year on year in the first half of 2026. AÏZA has built its range around ingredients familiar across the region, including dates, black seed, frankincense, rose and bakhoor, with formulations developed in laboratories in Korea, Japan and Italy. Its products are currently sold through its own website, Ounass and Ulta Beauty Ulta Beauty in the UAE. The round adds another regional beauty brand to watch as Saudi Arabia becomes the next major market in its expansion.
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