The Spirit of Dubai: Luxury Oriental Perfumes from Dubai

The Spirit of Dubai is the niche line from Nabeel Perfumes, a UAE fragrance house founded in 1969 by Asghar Adam Ali (Al Attar). Launched in 2015, the maison interprets the city of Dubai through layered oriental compositions, with each fragrance capturing a distinct facet of the metropolis — from the coastline to the skyline, from the desert to its cultural heritage. The unifying hallmark is the use of traditional khaleeji raw materials — oud, damascena rose, saffron, amber — crafted within a contemporary olfactory language.

History and philosophy

Asghar Adam Ali (Al Attar), born in Aden into a family with deep roots in perfumery, opened his first outlet in 1969. Following political upheaval, he relocated the business to the UAE and built Nabeel Perfumes into a production house firmly grounded in classical Arabic perfumery. In January 2015, at the Dubai Mall, he launched The Spirit of Dubai as a distinct project: a niche line in which every title corresponds to an Arabic concept tied to the city — from architecture and heritage to the coast and equestrian culture.

The brand's philosophy rests on the idea that each fragrance is concept-driven — constructed around a precise cultural image of Dubai rather than a generic evocation of oriental luxury. Asghar Adam Ali serves simultaneously as founder, chairman and sole creator of the compositions, with no intermediary creative committees. The collection made its European debut at Esxence Milan in 2015.

The style

The Spirit of Dubai fragrances move within the oriental woody olfactory family, with a recurring presence of Indian oud, Turkish rose, saffron, amber and patchouli. The pyramids are built in a layered and complex fashion, with a generous number of notes that unfold gradually over time. The primary format is eau de parfum in sculptural flacons; alongside the EDP sit attars — pure oils in the Arabic tradition — and bakhoor, a solid ambient fragrance burnt according to khaleeji ritual. All fragrances are unisex.

• First Generation — the original 2015 niche collection: eight fragrances, each inspired by a specific identity of Dubai, spanning architecture, the coastline, the dunes, oud, equestrian tradition, hospitality and cultural heritage.
• Second Generation — the subsequent ultra-niche line, revisiting the same thematic coordinates with even more elaborate compositions and a higher price positioning.
• Accord Collection — a more recent development exploring variations and accords that cut across the two preceding generations.
• Attar and Bakhoor — formats rooted in traditional Arabic perfumery practice, available alongside the EDP for wear on the skin or use within the home.

The most celebrated fragrances

The Spirit of Dubai catalogue spans more than twenty titles. Below are the most representative works from the maison.

• Abraj — An eau de parfum from 2015 inspired by the skyscrapers of Dubai. Opening of bergamot, saffron and cardamom; heart of red rose and cedar; base of amber, patchouli and musk. Oriental woody chypre family.
• Rimal — Dedicated to the dunes of the Arabian desert. Warm spices in the opening — saffron, cinnamon, nutmeg — over a heart of patchouli and ylang-ylang, with a base of sandalwood and vetiver. Oriental spicy.
• Meydan — Inspired by polo and equestrian culture. An accord of saffron, lavender and bergamot in the opening, with notes of tobacco, cedar and geranium at the heart; base of leather, patchouli and amber. Oriental woody.
• Turath — Arabic for 'heritage', this fragrance honours Dubai's cultural patrimony. An elaborate composition of spiced fruits, damascena rose, oud and ambergris over a deep base of patchouli, incense and white musk. Among the most sought-after fragrances in the First Generation.
• Shumukh — Launched in 2019 as a single collector's piece and holder of world records for the value of its flacon. Indian oud, Turkish rose, olibanum, patchouli, sandalwood and amber in a dense, long-lasting oriental composition.