Issue 8
MOHAMMED RASHID
AL MATWI
Our priority is
our community
With ambitions to support his country in its response
to the global pandemic, Mohammed Rashid Al Matwi,
Founder and CEO of ‘The Perfume Factory’, rapidly
transformed his perfume business into one that is
creating life-saving sanitisers.
How did you get started in the perfume industry?
I always wanted to create a meaningful enterprise
that would speak to the community and help unlock
new opportunities. My passion for the perfume
industry, which has a long heritage in the region,
inspired me to take concrete steps towards this goal
when I completed a degree in business in 2015.
I was very fortunate to receive support from
my family and community, particularly Qatar
Development Bank, who saw my vision and guided
the initial stages of the venture until we were ready to
open our doors in 2017.
How did the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic
impact the trajectory of ‘The Perfume Factory’?
I wanted to create a business that would support
future generations. The pandemic redefined
this vision when we had to think of ways to
lend immediate support to our country and our
community.
The team worked tirelessly and by mid-March we had
virtually transformed into a hand sanitiser factory
ready to support the local market. We sold sanitisers
below market price; our goal was to help people
protect themselves.
22