na14 perfume factory

The National
  • Nader Adam Ali, director of Swiss Arabian, burning bakhoor at one of its factories in Sharjah. All photos by Pawan Singh / The National
    Nader Adam Ali, director of Swiss Arabian, burning bakhoor at one of its factories in Sharjah. All photos by Pawan Singh / The National
  • Bakhoor chips being mixed with essential oils at the Swiss Arabian perfume factory in Sharjah.
    Bakhoor chips being mixed with essential oils at the Swiss Arabian perfume factory in Sharjah.
  • Today, the company produces 120 products across eight different categories and manufactures about 3.5 million bottles of perfumes, oils, lotions and bakhoor boxes, each month.
    Today, the company produces 120 products across eight different categories and manufactures about 3.5 million bottles of perfumes, oils, lotions and bakhoor boxes, each month.
  • Oud dust and essentials oils are mixed together using a special binding ingredient.
    Oud dust and essentials oils are mixed together using a special binding ingredient.
  • The company was founded in 1974 by Yemeni perfumer Hussein Adam Ali. His son, Nader Adam Ali, pictured here, now runs the business.
    The company was founded in 1974 by Yemeni perfumer Hussein Adam Ali. His son, Nader Adam Ali, pictured here, now runs the business.
  • Workers at the factory in Sharjah hand roll bakhoor.
    Workers at the factory in Sharjah hand roll bakhoor.
  • Essential oils are brought in from around the world including Turkey, Bulgaria and Saudi Arabia.
    Essential oils are brought in from around the world including Turkey, Bulgaria and Saudi Arabia.
  • The company gets oud from the mountainous rainforests of Thailand, Indonesia and Burma. Oud is an extremely rare and precious natural oil obtained from several species of the aquilaria tree.
    The company gets oud from the mountainous rainforests of Thailand, Indonesia and Burma. Oud is an extremely rare and precious natural oil obtained from several species of the aquilaria tree.
  • The company owns four warehouses spanning 35,000 square metres.
    The company owns four warehouses spanning 35,000 square metres.