BW Confidential has published a Special Edition on the Beautyworld Dubai Awards, which took place at Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre on October 7, during the show’s milestone 30th edition. Read the Special Edition here
The gala dinner and awards ceremony brought together beauty executives to celebrate innovation.
The Awards recognize achievement across the full breadth of the sector, from fragrance, skincare and cosmetics, to hair, packaging, retail and beauty technology.
This year’s winners were drawn from a shortlist of 85 finalists spanning established international names, homegrown Gulf brands and first-time challengers.
“Thirty editions into Beautyworld Dubai’s story, the Awards show that the region is no longer just a market for global beauty, but a source of it,” said Ted Bloom, CEO, Messe Frankfurt Middle East. “Our congratulations to every winner, and to everyone who made this year’s shortlist.”
A highlight of the Awards ceremony was the presentation of the Beautyworld Icon Award to Huda Kattan. Entrepreneur and founder of the Dubai-born Huda Beauty brand, Kattan is the personification of what it means to build a beauty brand from the Middle East and take it to the global stage. It was a fitting marker for an edition that celebrated not just global beauty, but the region’s growing place within it.
Fragrance was a key category. Popular Fragrance of the Year went to Asad Elixir from Lattafa, a category that reflects the Gulf’s rising global influence in scent. Niche Fragrance of the Year went to Nitro Musk EDP from SCENTOLOGIA. Homegrown Brand of the Year went to AÏZA, underlining the strength of the region’s own beauty names.
Huda Kattan: Winner of the Beautyworld Dubai Icon Award
Huda Kattan, founder of Huda Beauty, was honored with the Beautyworld Dubai Icon Award in recognition of her influence on the global beauty industry.
Huda Beauty, which Kattan founded in 2013, is one of the most-followed beauty brands on Instagram, with nearly 57 million followers. Its YouTube channel has more than 4.1 million subscribers, while its TikTok audience has grown to more than 10.7 million.
Kattan bought back her equity in the brand she founded from TSG Consumer Partners in 2025, after having sold a minority stake to the private-equity company in 2017. Having regained complete control of Huda Beauty, Kattan embarked on a rebrand with a new logo and a roadmap focused on bold product launches and deeper community engagement.
In a major move, Kattan launched the brand’s first fragrance in May called Easy Bake Intense Eau de Parfum. The idea for the fragrance started with the brand’s community as a limited-edition April’s Fool joke. Given the strong reception to the scent, the fragrance was refined and launched on the market. The scent is positioned as the final touch in the beauty routine, or as Kattan puts it “the final step of glam, bottled.”
On presenting the Award, Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt, said: “The queen of make-up is entering the world of fragrance. Easy Bake set the faces of millions, and now it will scent them too. To every perfume house in this room, watch closely.” He added: “She has changed the conversation around beauty, and built a global community of millions, She helped redefine what it means to build a beauty brand from the Middle East and take it to the global stage, inspiring a new generation of beauty lovers and entrepreneurs. A true beauty icon in every sense of the word.”
Kattan accepted the Award through a video message from Paris shown during the ceremony. “I’m so honored to receive this Award,” she said. “When I came into the beauty industry, it was important to me that I made a difference, to show people that we are all capable of so much and that beauty is so empowering. I couldn’t have done this without my amazing community, and I’m so grateful to the region. I know that I couldn’t have done this anywhere else.”
The winners of the Beautyworld Dubai Awards 2026
The Beautyworld Icon Award: Huda Kattan
Technology Innovation of the Year: Salonist – AI Beauty & Wellness Operating System
Innovative Packaging of the Year: moondune – Sunrise and Sunset Dates Essences
Luxury Packaging of the Year: GHAFF – Luxury Fragrance Collection
Hair Styling Device of the Year: Shark Beauty – Glam Ceramic Air Styling & Drying System
Hair Product of the Year: L’Oreal Group Middle East – Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural
Nail Product of the Year: Nazih Group – Bandi Color Skin Gel #2 Light Pink
Conscious Brand of the Year: Sknfed
Media Campaign of the Year: Umberto Giannini x Dunkin Curl Cafe
Personal Care Product of the Year: SOOO – Kids All-in-One
Male Grooming Product of the Year: MÄNN Skincare – Daily Detox Cleanser
Cosmetic Product of the Year: Tatti Lashes – Pre-Glued Cluster Lash Kit
Skincare Product of the Year: Asteri Beauty – Dew Good Restorative Serum
Popular Fragrance of the Year: Lattafa – Asad Elixir
Niche Fragrance of the Year: Scentologia – Nitro Musk EdP
Newcomer Brand of the Year: Sweed
Homegrown Brand of the Year: AÏZA
Retailer of the Year: Reef Group