Dubai Perfumer Anthony Marmin: A French Artist in the UAE
French, Muslim, and a Nose
In the heart of the UAE’s diverse cultural scene, Anthony Marmin stands apart. A French-born perfumer, a Muslim by conviction, and a Dubai-based artist, his narrative is one of convergence, where heritage, spirituality, and olfactory craftsmanship unite. Also known also as Abdul Karim Al Faransi, his story is less about duality and more about harmony.
French Heritage
Anthony Marmin's roots trace back to France, a nation synonymous with artistry, sophistication, elegance, and unparalleled cultural richness.
From the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre, French identity is built on cultural sophistication, but it also lives in the details: the warmth of a bakery in the morning, the quiet prestige of a neighborhood café, or the artistic devotion to culinary craft. France is not a monolith. Beyond Paris, each region expresses its own rhythms, rituals, and rich traditions.
The North, where Anthony’s roots lie, is known for its deep traditions and natural beauty. Provence, long associated with aromatic splendor, echoes the soul of French perfumery. Together, these influences shaped his eye, his taste, and ultimately, his craft.
Embracing Islam
Though France is not a Muslim country, Islam has long transcended borders. Many associate French Muslims with the Maghreb community: Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. Anthony’s story is different: a French revert to Islam, embracing the faith with gratitude and conviction.
Becoming Muslim was not a rejection of French culture, but a refinement of his path. Islam did not erase his identity; it gave it depth. Indeed, Islam didn’t come to forbid people’s customs but to guide them to do what is more appropriate and better.
Through personal experiences, new friendships, and cross-cultural encounters, Anthony has grown as a man, a father, an entrepreneur and Dubai perfumer. Engaging with so many cultures didn’t dilute his perspective but it enriched it. It opened his heart and sharpened his creative instincts.
Dubai Artist
His journey as an artist began in France, evolved in the United Kingdom, and now finds its full expression in Dubai.
Dubai offers a rare canvas: a place where tradition and modernity coexist, where creativity meets ambition. As a French artist in the Emirates, Anthony’s story reflects the possibility of harmony where distinct heritages can blend, not clash.
His artistic vision, deeply influenced by both faith and heritage, resonates in the city’s cultural pulse. He belongs to a generation of Dubai artists whose work doesn’t just reflect place, but meaning.
Dubai Perfumer
As a Dubai perfumer, Anthony Marmin redefines the art of fragrance by seamlessly blending Arabian and French traditions into his creations.
Drawing from his French background, where the love for beautiful scent is almost instinctual, and enriched by his spiritual path through Islam, Anthony developed a new perfumery language. One that carries character, but flows with softness.
The result is a body of work that feels both timeless and unseen. Through Maison Anthony Marmin, he doesn’t simply produce perfumes but he crafts bridges between cultures, eras, and emotions.
Anthony Marmin’s vision as a Dubai perfumer makes him a leading figure in the world of Arabian fragrance, where he skillfully integrates the best of both worlds, setting new standards in traditional perfumery.
Conclusion
Anthony Marmin, also known as Abdul Karim Al Faransi, is not defined by labels. He is French and Muslim, a perfumer and artist, traditional yet boundary-breaking. His work represents the meeting point of sincerity and sophistication, of memory and imagination.
As a Dubai artist, his journey is more than personal, it speaks to the spirit of the city itself: a place where identities coexist, evolve, and flourish.
