Huda Kattan takes centre stage at Beautyworld Dubai 2026

Dubai-born beauty entrepreneur Huda Kattan is among the headline names at Beautyworld Dubai 2026, as the region’s largest beauty trade event celebrates its 30th edition at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Running from October 6 to 8, the three-day event brings together major names from makeup, fragrance, skincare, haircare and beauty technology, with global artists including Mary Phillips and Patrick Ta joining industry leaders from around the world.

Kattan will also receive the Beautyworld Icon Award, recognising her influence on the global beauty industry and the international success of Huda Beauty.

Huda Kattan receives major industry honour

The Beautyworld Dubai Awards will take place on October 7 at Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre, celebrating achievements across 17 categories.

One of the evening’s biggest moments will be the presentation of the Beautyworld Icon Award to Kattan.

Her company, Huda Beauty, grew from a Dubai-based beauty blog into one of the world’s most recognisable cosmetics brands, helping position the emirate as an increasingly important centre for the global beauty industry.

The award reflects both Kattan’s personal influence and the wider international reach of a brand created in Dubai.

Mary Phillips and Patrick Ta lead makeup masterclasses

Beautyworld Dubai is also bringing several of the industry’s best-known makeup artists to the city.

Mary Phillips, whose client list includes some of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities, is part of the event’s masterclass programme alongside Patrick Ta.

Phillips is also participating in the Next in Beauty conference, where discussions focus on subjects including luxury retail, investment and the rapid growth of the GCC beauty market.

Hair professionals Mounir, Dimitris Giannetos and Josh Lamonaca are also appearing on live stages, demonstrating techniques and discussing trends shaping their respective industries.

Fragrance becomes one of the biggest attractions

Perfume has become a major part of Beautyworld Dubai.

The fragrance section has expanded to more than 19,000 square metres, more than tripling in size since 2017, and now features over 220 exhibitors.

Regional brands including Lattafa, Afnan, Armaf and French Avenue are participating alongside Kuwait’s Gissah and Saudi Arabia’s Al Majed for Oud, which is exhibiting for the first time.

Lush is also using the event to debut a new fragrance range.

The scale of the section reflects the continued strength of the Middle East fragrance market and the growing global influence of regional perfume brands.

AI is changing the way perfumes are created

Technology is also becoming increasingly visible across the beauty industry.

Scentronix, the AI perfumery company behind the fragrance experience at Dubai’s Museum of the Future, is demonstrating how artificial intelligence can be used in scent development.

The company’s presence highlights a wider shift towards personalised fragrance and technology-assisted product creation.

Beautyworld’s Next in Fragrance conference is also bringing some of the world’s most influential perfumers to Dubai.

Master perfumer Aurélien Guichard appears on October 6, followed by Louis Vuitton master perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud on October 7.

Discussions include alcohol-free fragrances, changing consumer habits and the influence of younger generations on the perfume market.

Korean skincare continues its global rise

K-beauty also has a strong presence at this year’s exhibition.

Brands including SKIN1004, Medicube and Meditherapy are showcasing products alongside companies specialising in beauty technology, ingredients and packaging.

The Natural Notes section has also returned, connecting producers of natural ingredients with perfume and cosmetics companies.

Together, the different sections show how Beautyworld Dubai has evolved beyond a traditional trade fair into a platform covering almost every part of the modern beauty industry.

Dubai strengthens its position in global beauty

Organised by Messe Frankfurt Middle East, Beautyworld Dubai has grown significantly since its launch three decades ago.

Its 30th edition reflects how Dubai has become an increasingly important meeting point for global beauty brands, entrepreneurs, retailers and creatives.

From Huda Kattan’s rise from Dubai entrepreneur to international beauty figure to AI-created fragrances and celebrity makeup artists, the event brings together both the people and technologies shaping what the industry could look like next.

Beautyworld Dubai 2026 runs until October 8 at Dubai World Trade Centre and is open to trade visitors aged 18 and above.