A scent-sational collab: Kerten Hospitality partners with Kayali

Mona Kattan, founder of Kayali, and Marloes Knippenberg, CEO of Kerten Hospitality, unveil the partnership at the iconic Dar Tantora The House Hotel in AlUla. (Supplied)
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Updated 28 March 2024
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A scent-sational collab: Kerten Hospitality partners with Kayali

Kerten Hospitality, a pioneer in creating innovative hospitality experiences, has announced a partnership with Kayali, a perfume brand led by the visionary entrepreneur Mona Kattan. This collaboration, which began at the iconic Dar Tantora The House Hotel in AlUla, introduces an unprecedented sensory experience to guests, marrying luxury hospitality with the exquisite art of perfumery and local traditions.

Upon check-in, guests at Dar Tantora The House Hotel are greeted with a selection of Kayali’s signature Oud collection, inviting them to select their preferred scent. This personalized choice then becomes an integral part of their stay, as the chosen fragrance is used to scent the room during the daily turndown service, ensuring a unique and memorable ambiance throughout their visit.
Kerten Hospitality is known for its innovative and bespoke projects across the hospitality, residential, and integrated living sectors. With a focus on community, sustainability, and innovation, the hospitality group creates unique, impactful experiences that cater to the evolving needs of modern travelers.
Founded by Kattan, Kayali is a luxury fragrance brand that draws inspiration from the rich heritage of the Middle East, blending traditional scents with modern flair. Kayali, meaning “my imagination” in Arabic, invites wearers to explore and express their unique identities through a sophisticated collection of fragrances and layering techniques.
This partnership aligns seamlessly with Kerten Hospitality’s ethos of supporting regional businesses and integrating culture and artisanal craftsmanship into the guest experience. It also marks a significant milestone in Kayali’s expansion into commercial ventures, showcasing the brand’s versatility and the potential for fragrances to transform spaces and create lasting memories.
“Partnering with Kerten Hospitality allows us to bring Kayali’s world of fragrances to a new audience in a unique and meaningful way. It’s an honor to be part of the guest experience at Dar Tantora The House Hotel, and we’re thrilled to see our scents add an extra dimension of personalization to their stay,” said Kattan.
Marloes Knippenberg, CEO of Kerten Hospitality, added: “This collaboration with Kayali, spearheaded by the visionary Mona Kattan, represents a special moment for Kerten Hospitality. It embodies our dedication to crafting immersive, culturally rich experiences for our guests. Through this partnership, we’re not just offering a stay; we’re inviting our guests into a world where every detail is carefully curated to enhance their journey. This initiative at Dar Tantora The House Hotel in AlUla is a perfect example of how we innovate to create meaningful connections between our guests and the local culture. We’re excited to see this collaboration unfold and enrich our guests’ experience.”
The initiative at Dar Tantora The House Hotel is just the beginning of a long-term collaboration between Kayali and Kerten Hospitality, with plans to introduce more innovative and sensory-enhancing experiences across the group’s portfolio of properties.


Schneider Electric launches academy in Saudi Arabia to build future-ready talent

Updated 04 February 2026
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Schneider Electric launches academy in Saudi Arabia to build future-ready talent

Schneider Electric has announced the launch of the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa in Saudi Arabia, a regional capability platform dedicated to skilling, upskilling, and knowledge sharing.

The launch comes at a critical moment as the Kingdom accelerates energy transition, industrial localization, and human capability development under Vision 2030. The academy reinforces the Kingdom’s leadership role in building future-ready talent while supporting industrial and energy transformation across the wider Middle East and Africa region.

The Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa is not a traditional training center; it is a regional platform translating Schneider Electric’s global energy technology expertise into applied capability for Saudi Arabia and the broader region. Anchored in Riyadh, the academy is designed to serve as a benchmark for skills development and enablement across the MEA.

The launch reflects Schneider Electric’s long-term commitment to investing in people and capabilities, and to supporting national priorities across energy, industry, and digital infrastructure.

Mohamed Shaheen, cluster president of Schneider Electric Saudi Arabia and Yemen, said: “This launch reflects our long-term commitment to Saudi Arabia and to building capability that lasts. After more than 40 years in the Kingdom, we continue to invest where impact matters most: in people. Launching the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa from Riyadh underscores our belief that sustainable transformation is built on local capability and trusted partnerships.”

The academy directly supports Saudi Arabia’s focus on human capability development, localization, and Saudi-made outcomes by enabling the skills behind advanced energy systems, industrial automation, and digital infrastructure. Capabilities developed through the academy will support Saudi manufacturing, national projects, and resilient supply chains, while also strengthening regional industrial ecosystems.

“The Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa is designed to enable real outcomes,” said Walid Sheta, zone president for the MEA at Schneider Electric. “By equipping talent with future-ready skills across electrification, automation, and digital intelligence, we are strengthening Saudi and regional capability to design, operate, and lead the energy and industrial systems of the future.”

The launch event in Riyadh brought together senior government representatives, industry partners, customers, and Schneider Electric’s leadership, highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration in aligning education, skills development, and labor market needs.

Designed as a long-term platform, the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa will continue to evolve through partnerships, programs, and continuous capability development, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s role as a regional hub for skills, knowledge, and industrial enablement.