A man who arrived in Dubai as a domestic helper in 1977 has built a fragrance empire spanning more than 150 countries, marking the achievement with a lavish celebration at Expo City Dubai that brought together thousands of guests from across the globe.
Poland Moosa, the chairman and founder of Fragrance World, hosted over 2,000 attendees at the grand event, which featured a spectacular drone show unveiling a commemorative logo that traced the brand’s remarkable journey. The aerial display incorporated Moosa’s digital signature, symbolising his personal stamp on an enterprise that has become one of the region’s most successful entrepreneurial stories.
The celebration drew distributors from nearly 150 nations, alongside prominent Dubai business figures and the company’s workforce. Indian film star Mammootty attended the festivities, joining CEO P. V. Salam, Joint CEO P. V. Safeer, and Mr. Labeeb for an evening that combined corporate milestone with personal tribute.
Central to the event was the premiere of “Kunjon,” a docu-fiction film chronicling Moosa’s life story. Directed by Jeevan Jose, the film is set for digital release and offers viewers insight into the entrepreneur’s unlikely path to success. The evening also saw the cover reveal of “Fragrance of Legacy,” a book by Sebin Paulose documenting the company’s history.
Moosa’s journey began in 1959 in Kerala, India, where he survived a life-threatening smallpox infection during childhood. Facing severe hardship, he left home at just nine years old, working various jobs before making his way to Dubai at age 18. His early years in the emirate were humble—he started as a domestic helper before transitioning into retail trade in the bustling Deira district.
The turning point came in 1988 when Moosa launched Al Ghuroob, his first business venture. A pioneering trip to Poland proved transformative, opening doors to international expansion across Eastern Europe, including Bulgaria and Russia. That journey also gave him his distinctive moniker—Poland Moosa—a name that would become synonymous with success in the fragrance industry.
Despite having only a basic education, Moosa mastered over fifteen languages, a skill that proved invaluable as he built relationships across diverse markets. His linguistic abilities and business acumen converged in 2004 when he established Fragrance World, which rapidly emerged as a leading player in Dubai’s competitive perfume sector.
The company’s trajectory continued upward with the 2012 launch of French Avenue, reflecting its growing international stature. Today, Fragrance World operates its own manufacturing facility capable of producing hundreds of thousands of bottles daily, offering customers more than 4,000 perfume variants.
At the Expo City celebration, Moosa took time to honour international partners who had been instrumental in the company’s expansion. Elizabeth Szczyglowska from Poland, Liliya Petrova from Bulgaria, Konstin Vazniko from Russia, and Rishad Sahverdiev from Azerbaijan received special recognition for their roles in building the brand’s presence across their respective regions.
The human element of the business was prominently featured through a parade of approximately 1,000 factory workers, underscoring the enterprise’s scale. In a gesture reflecting Moosa’s appreciation for loyalty, the company felicitated employees who had served for 30, 20, and 10 years, distributing gifts and rewards valued at over AED 3 million.
The celebration represented more than a corporate milestone. For those who have followed Moosa’s trajectory from his arrival in Dubai with nothing to his current status as one of the most successful Indian entrepreneurs on the global stage, the event symbolised the realisation of an extraordinary vision built on resilience, linguistic prowess, and an intuitive understanding of international markets.
Fragrance World’s presence in more than 150 countries positions it among the truly global brands to emerge from the UAE, a testament to both the region’s business-friendly environment and one man’s determination to transcend the circumstances of his birth. The company’s manufacturing capabilities and vast product range have made it a significant player in an industry where brand recognition and distribution networks are paramount.
As the drone show illuminated the Dubai sky with images chronicling the company’s growth, attendees witnessed not just a celebration of commercial success, but a story of transformation that began decades ago in the narrow lanes of Deira and now reaches customers from Eastern Europe to Asia, Africa to the Americas. The evening served as a reminder that in Dubai’s dynamic business landscape, origins matter less than ambition, and that mastery of languages and cultures can open doors that formal education alone cannot.