Amna Al Habtoor launched Arcadia, her first fragrance line. Courtesy of Arcadia
Amna Al Habtoor launched Arcadia, her first fragrance line. Courtesy of Arcadia

Amna Al Habtoor’s new fragrance line draws on nostalgia-inducing aromas



Amna Al Habtoor, former marketing and communications director at her father’s company, Al Habtoor Motors, has launched her own fragrance line. Called Arcadia, the brand was unveiled last week at a private event in Al Quoz, where 10 rooms were set up with actors and dancers, to enact the inspirations behind each of the 10 fragrances in the brand’s first collection, Edition 1.

Each of the scents is unique; one unisex fragrance, called Periwinkle, smells like a fresh field of lavender, while another, called Royal Orchard, has an undeniable apple aroma. Each perfume comes in a minimalist bottle with a laboratory-style label on it. Customers can also read the story behind each scent, in a poetic description that accompanies every fragrance.

“Although the concept of linking nostalgia and scents is not uncommon, we are excited to share this homegrown brand that has been inspired by personal experiences. We hope that these scents help to make your memories more vivid, and we welcome you to start this journey with us,” says Amna Al Habtoor, founder of Arcadia.

Prices start at Dh350 for each fragrance, and Arcadia's Edition 1 collection is available at www.arcadiame.com and The Zoo Concept boutique in Dubai. Pick up a copy of this Friday's edition of The National to read our interview with Amna Al Habtoor, in the Weekend section of the paper.

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  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
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  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
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  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
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  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

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PROFILE OF SWVL

Started: April 2017

Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport

Size: 450 employees

Investment: approximately $80 million

Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia