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.


25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum

Updated 27 December 2025
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25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum

The Social Development Bank concluded the second edition of the Entrepreneurship and Modern Business Practices Forum — DeveGo 2025 — announcing the achievement of high-impact outcomes that further reinforced the forum’s position as the largest national platform in the region dedicated to entrepreneurship, innovation, and freelance work in Saudi Arabia and beyond. 

The forum witnessed broad participation from local and international experts, investors, entrepreneurs, and representatives of local, regional, and international institutions.

Over three days at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, the forum drew 25,000 participants and visitors, who benefited from over 45 specialized workshops and over 2500 advisory sessions delivered by more than 70 consultants and experts. 

The sessions covered key areas including entrepreneurial planning, business models, venture capital, digital platforms, freelancing, and emerging technologies. 

The forum also featured 20 panel discussions with leading local and international speakers, addressing major global trends in entrepreneurship, including the future of artificial intelligence, the creative economy, digital transformation, and venture investment. 

The forum saw the launch of the Saudi Empretec Fellowship, in the presence of Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development. 

The partners in success within the Social Responsibility Portfolio supporting entrepreneurs were honored. 

It also saw the honoring of 13 winners of the Handicrafts Competition, representing various regions of the Kingdom, the announcement of winners of the Salam Award for Promising Projects, and the recognition of leading entrepreneurial projects fund under the Enterprises Track. 

In addition, the NEXT UP Challenge concluded on the third day of the forum with 20 startups presenting their projects to more than 500 investors, enhancing opportunities for networking and partnership building.

As part of efforts to strengthen the support ecosystem, the forum witnessed the signing of 51 agreements, along with the launch of a suite of new financing products. These included the Capital Expansion Product with a ceiling of up to SR10 million, the Payroll Product with a ceiling of SR2 million, and the Rental Product with a ceiling of SR1.5 million, aimed at supporting enterprises in asset development and covering operational costs. 

This reflects the bank’s direction toward offering more specialized financing tools that respond effectively to market needs.

The forum concluded by reaffirming its role as a unifying national platform for entrepreneurship, where accompanying activities and events provided direct engagement opportunities between entrepreneurs, investors, and experts. 

The forum also highlighted success stories and practical experiences that reflect the scale of entrepreneurial momentum in the Kingdom and the growing role of the Social Development Bank in supporting a national economy driven by innovation and knowledge.