author-avatar

About Mona Kattan

Mona Kattan is the founder and CEO of Kayali and one of the most recognized names in the global beauty and fragrance industry. Born into an Arab American family, Mona studied finance and briefly worked in investment banking before choosing a different path — one built on community, creativity, and scent. In 2009 she launched her first business, a PR and consultancy firm. By 2012 she had co-founded a beauty salon, which eventually led to the creation of Huda Beauty alongside her sisters Huda and Alya Kattan. But fragrance was always where her heart was. In 2018, Mona founded Kayali — a luxury fragrance brand rooted in the Middle Eastern tradition of layering scents. What started as a deeply personal passion project has grown into a global community of over 6 million followers who share, discover, and layer Kayali fragrances every day. Mona's influence extends well beyond her brand. She has been featured in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, WWD, Allure, Cosmopolitan, and Marie Claire. In 2024, Forbes named her one of the most powerful women in the Middle East. She has appeared on Netflix's Dubai Bling and Shark Tank, and remains an active mentor, speaker, and member of YPO, Founders Forum, and The Fragrance Foundation. Her work is guided by a simple belief: that fragrance is personal, inclusive, and one of the most powerful ways a person can express who they are.