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Personal edition · No. 012011–2027
MRM

The Momentum

Manager by role. Manufacturer by nature.مدير بالمنصب، صانع بالفطرة

The Perfume Factory · 2015–2018

Qatar’s first perfume factory

Registered in 2015. Opened in 2018. A journey from an idea to a place that makes.

2015: Registers The Perfume Factory. After the 2017 blockade disrupted supply chains, Qatar’s first perfume factory opens in Doha in 2018, supported by QDB’s Jahiz 1 programme.

“Our vision is to make Qatar an international perfume hub.”
By Mohammed Rashid Al-Matwi
Continued in Factory · 03

01 · Roots

It started with a seatbelt campaign

At CMU-Q he founded Ahmeek («أحميك», "I will protect you"): silent flash mobs showing the cost of reckless driving, in schools, souqs and malls.

Continued in

02 · Two tracks

The manager and the manufacturer

A Qatari telecom company since June 2015. Five roles, from Developee to Senior Manager, including a QAR 300m+ public-safety infrastructure portfolio.

Continued in

03 · Resilience

A perfume factory becomes a sanitiser factory

In under a month, the factory developed sanitisers and disinfectants, supplying 300+ restaurants and cafés and 150+ outlets.

Continued in
01 · RootsCMU-Q · 2011–2015

It started with a seatbelt campaign

At CMU-Q he founded Ahmeek («أحميك», "I will protect you"): silent flash mobs showing the cost of reckless driving, in schools, souqs and malls.

40+ volunteers in a core team and network. 2013: CMU-Q Doha Community Engagement Program winner, then Vodafone Qatar World of Difference — one of three winners from 150 applicants, with a year of funding. 2014: Most Influencing Road Safety Campaign, Traffic Department, Ministry of Interior. 2014–15: Head of Initiatives, Qatar Volunteer Center

Continued in · 02
AhmeekIdea and production: Mohammed R Al-MatwiActors and volunteers from QatarVideography and direction: Amal Al Muftah
02 · Two tracksDoha · 2015–2024

The manager and the manufacturer

May: Graduates from CMU-Q. June: Joins a Qatari telecom company. July: Registers The Perfume Factory. Also co-founds Shnaita.

A Qatari telecom company since June 2015. Five roles, from Developee to Senior Manager, including a QAR 300m+ public-safety infrastructure portfolio.

The Perfume Factory, registered July 2015. Qatar's first perfume manufacturer, making its own lines and products for 50+ other brands.

Career

Five roles in eleven years

2015DevelopeeLusail city-wide Wi-Fi

2016Business Development & Mega Projects AnalystMsheireb, Manateq and MOI; QAR 250m frame agreement with suppliers

2018Account Lead, Mega AccountsMOI Telecom account, QAR 200m+ potential

2019Senior Manager, Managed InfrastructureQAR 300m+ public-safety portfolio; 5G for MOI

2024Senior Manager, Cross Functional ProjectsB2B projects end to end, including Nojoom Business

Presented for a Qatari telecom company at the Rio 2016 Olympics, Mobile World Congress, Future Cities Summit, Milipol, Qitcom and Soccerex.

A real moment belongs here.

Original photograph awaited
Photo: CMU-Q graduation, 2015
“University was my chance to discover what I am passionate about, and to challenge myself by implementing my ideas.”
By Mohammed Rashid Al-Matwi

Also: Senior Student Leadership Award, Carnegie Mellon (April 2015).

Shnaita

Recycling for handbags

Four CMU-Q students built a trusted place to resell unused designer handbags, bringing circular luxury to Qatar. Started on Instagram (@shnaita), then opened a store at Tawar Mall.

03 · FactoryDoha · 2015–2018

Building Qatar's first perfume factory

2015: Registers The Perfume Factory. After the 2017 blockade disrupted supply chains, Qatar’s first perfume factory opens in Doha in 2018, supported by QDB’s Jahiz 1 programme.

A real moment belongs here.

Original photograph awaited
Photo: The factory building

First products · 2018–2019

Qatar in a bottle, at every price

The heritage collection sold out on day one at a Moscow exhibition. In 2019, Pure Essence brought Qatar’s first mass-market perfume to hypermarkets at QAR 35.

“Our vision is to make Qatar an international perfume hub.”
By Mohammed Rashid Al-Matwi

Recognition & associations

Learning, teaching, in good company

HEC Paris · McKinsey MALP · Bedaya Summer Camp · Ministry of Culture · Euronews · IMPART Summit · US-Qatar Business Council · Qatar Development Bank · Qatar Foundation · CMU-Q · Georgetown University in Qatar · VCUarts Qatar

Built with AI

Nine sites, built myself

All built on Lovable, with no developer.

04 · ResilienceDoha · 2020

A perfume factory becomes a sanitiser factory

In under a month, the factory developed sanitisers and disinfectants, supplying 300+ restaurants and cafés and 150+ outlets.

“I wanted to do something that would directly help those living in this country.”
By Mohammed Rashid Al-Matwi
05 · Latest dispatchesDoha · Bangkok · 2026

Latest dispatches

2026

Aroma Persona

Google Cloud Summit, QNCC · 22 September 2026: 1,200 custom blends and 850+ guest entries.

2026

Ulta Beauty Middle East

Listing talks remain in progress.

2026

Sealine · 400 m²

Experience stand application under review for the 2026–27 camping season.

2026

WASMI · وسمي

The first rain · أول المطر. An alcohol-free perfume line.

2026

Thalatha · ٣٣٣

Diffuser, candle and incense in one set · QAR 333.

2026

Mixing stations

Thai outlet malls, Monoprix Iconic, the factory and Gate Mall.

2026

From Bangkok

Thailand launch, with brand work led by Wyld Pepper Studio.

2026

Almarket

A community market planned for Qatar’s parks; the first weekly market is to be proven before scaling.

Magazine insert · Bangkok

Four months, led from a distance

  1. July

    Bangkok becomes his base; brand work starts with Wyld Pepper Studio.

  2. August

    New positioning "Qatar's home of fragrance creation"; 38,000 accounts reached organically in 30 days with no posts and no ad spend.

  3. September

    1,200 blends in one day at Google Cloud Summit (850+ guest entries); Amsterdam show.

  4. October

    Thailand launch; Ulta Beauty talks; Sealine application under review.

“Distance made me delegate, and the work still moved.”
By Mohammed Rashid Al-Matwi

New products · 2026

Three new objects

WASMI: alcohol-free perfume named for the first rain. Thalatha ٣٣٣: diffuser, candle and incense in one set. Hand-stitched sleeves made from recycled leather offcuts.

Mixing stations

Mix your own scent, anywhere

Mixing stations for Thai outlet malls, Monoprix Iconic, the factory and Gate Mall. The Sealine fragrance experience application remains under review.

06 · Press and video2013–2023

On the record

27 articles and videos · 2013–2023

24 press clippings · 3 video features. Undated clippings follow the dated archive.

Qatar America Institute for Culture

Oct 2023

Qatari creatives in Washington DC

A delegation visit and a conversation with the US-Qatar Business Council.

Read the original
Georgetown University in Qatar

Oct 2023

A signature scent

The Perfume Factory created GU-Q’s diffuser scent.

Read the original
Euronews

7 Aug 2023

Making Qatar fragrant

A filmed portrait of perfume-making in Qatar.

Read the original
Qatar Living

c. 2021

Fancy Box, one year on

An anniversary and an exclusive deal with The Perfume Factory.

Read the original
CMU-Q · Qatar PR Network

Dec 2020

Alumni on National Day

A National Day alumni feature including the COVID-19 pivot.

Read the original
Qatar Living

30 Aug 2020

The entrepreneur, on camera

An interview about Shnaita, The Perfume Factory and QDB support.

Read the original
Qatar Foundation

Apr 2020

From perfume to sanitiser

The factory changed production in under a month.

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CMU-Q

Apr 2020

A business adapts

An alumnus redirected perfume production to fight COVID-19.

Read the original
The Peninsula

30 Apr 2020

A rapid response

The sanitiser pivot reached Qatar’s communities.

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CMU-Q

14 Nov 2019

Reyada silver

Best Startup recognition for the perfume venture.

Read the original
BeautyMatter

27 Sep 2019

Backing local manufacturing

US trade coverage of Qatar Development Bank’s support.

Read the original
The Peninsula

18 Sep 2019

A niche for Qatari perfume

A local manufacturer seeks a distinctive perfume market.

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Qatar Foundation

1 Aug 2019

The scent of entrepreneurship

A teaser film on culturally relevant enterprise.

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Qatar Tribune

1 Aug 2019

Culture becomes enterprise

A perspective on businesses rooted in local culture.

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TQ magazine

Mar / Apr 2018

A magazine profile

A profile of the entrepreneur’s journey.

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CMU-Q

17 Sep 2013

Ahmeek makes a difference

The road-safety campaign wins Vodafone World of Difference.

Read the original
On Q magazine

Summer / Fall 2013

Ahmeek in print

A campus magazine feature on the road-safety campaign.

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Marhaba

2013

A student’s road-safety mission

Ahmeek brings a student-led campaign into public life.

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Al-Arab · العرب

2013

World of Difference

Arabic coverage of a CMU-Q student’s award.

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Society magazine

May 2013

From the archive · p. 67

A magazine appearance from the Ahmeek years.

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Gulf Times

4 May 2013

Three winners, one ambition

Three Qataris receive Vodafone’s World of Difference award.

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The Peninsula

9 Apr 2013

A seatbelt campaign begins

A CMU-Q sophomore launches Ahmeek.

Read the original
T Qatar · CMU-Q

Undated

Recycling for handbags

Shnaita creates a Qatari platform for gently used designer bags.

Read the original
Qatar Foundation

Undated

Alumni celebrate successes

QF alumni share their progress.

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2011 → 20272011–2027

The momentum line

  1. 2011

    Graduates from a local independent secondary school; joins Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar

  2. 2012

    Founds Ahmeek, a road-safety campaign, at CMU-Q

  3. 2013

    Wins Vodafone Qatar's World of Difference

  4. 2014

    Traffic Department's Most Influencing Road Safety Campaign

  5. 2015

    Graduates CMU-Q (May), joins a Qatari telecom company (June), registers The Perfume Factory (July), co-founds Shnaita

  6. 2016

    Represents a Qatari telecom company at the Rio 2016 Olympics and Mobile World Congress

  7. 2018

    Qatar's first perfume factory opens; Account Lead, Mega Accounts

  8. 2019

    Pure Essence launches; Reyada Awards silver medal for Best Startup; Senior Manager at a Qatari telecom company

  9. 2020

    Factory pivots to sanitiser in under a month; co-founds Fancy Box

  10. 2021–2022

    HEC Paris Entrepreneurship Management; McKinsey MALP; Bedaya Summer Camp mentoring begins

  11. 2023

    Euronews feature; speaks in Washington DC at the IMPART Summit

  12. 2024

    Senior Manager, Cross Functional Projects at a Qatari telecom company

  13. 2026

    1,200 blends in one day at Google Cloud Summit; Ulta Beauty talks; Thailand launch; WASMI and Thalatha ٣٣٣

  14. 2027

    Chapter Two

07 · Chapter Two · From 20272027

Chapter One was about seeing. Chapter Two is about choosing.

Thalatha ٣٣٣, WASMI and mixing stations. A Manateq fragrance-hub plan, and Almarket’s first weekly market, proven before it scales.

A real moment belongs here.

Original photograph awaited
Photo: Chapter Two
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Published projects

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