KUWAIT CITY, Nov 8: Palestinian-American supermodel Bella Hadid made headlines in Kuwait as she attended the grand opening of Ulta Beauty’s first Middle East store at The Avenues Mall on Friday, marking a major milestone for the U.S. beauty retailer and the regional debut of her fragrance brand Ôrəbella.

The launch event drew a large crowd of fans eager to catch a glimpse of Hadid, who arrived alongside her father, real estate developer Mohamed Hadid, creating a stir on social media. The 28-year-old model shared behind-the-scenes photos on her Instagram Stories, holding her perfume bottle and writing, “Ôrəbella is finally in Kuwait.” In another post, she added, “Look who I found in Kuwait? My little comedian @mohamedhadid. Baba’s birthday week + launching Ôrəbella in the Middle East = best week ever!!!”

According to industry experts, the Middle East is among the fastest-growing beauty markets globally, with Kuwait emerging as a key player. Ulta’s leadership noted that Kuwaiti consumers spend proportionally more on beauty products than in many Western markets, making the region a strategic priority for the brand’s international expansion.

For Bella Hadid, the Kuwait launch underscores her successful transition from supermodel to beauty entrepreneur. Her clean fragrance brand Ôrəbella, which debuted in 2024 with a sell-out line of alcohol-free fragrance mists, has been celebrated for its sustainable approach. In June 2025, Ulta Beauty named Ôrəbella its “Conscious Brand of the Year,” recognizing its commitment to clean ingredients, ethical practices, and eco-friendly packaging.

Reflecting on her brand’s origins, Hadid wrote on her website: “For me, fragrance has always been at the center of my life — helping me feel in charge of who I am and my surroundings. From my home to nostalgic memories, to my own energy and connection with others, scent has been an outlet for me. It made me feel safe in my own world.”

She added that Ôrəbella was born out of personal necessity: “Through my healing journey, I found that I was extremely sensitive to the alcohol in traditional perfumes — both physically and mentally. It became something that was more overwhelming than calming to me. That is the main reason I wanted to find an alternative, so essential oils became an artistic and experimental process for me.”

The Kuwait opening is just the beginning of Ulta Beauty’s regional growth. Stores at Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Mall in the UAE are scheduled to open in December, with Saudi Arabia to follow in the first half of 2026.

For beauty enthusiasts across the Middle East, the arrival of Ulta Beauty — paired with Hadid’s Ôrəbella — signals a new era of global brands, clean beauty innovation, and immersive retail experiences in the region.