Leila Al Marashi (CADO): 10 Key Things You Must Know

Overview

Leila Al Marashi is a pioneering Emirati entrepreneur best known as the founder and CEO of CADO Gifting, a groundbreaking tech startup that has rapidly become the premier premium corporate gifting platform in the Middle East. Through CADO, Leila has revolutionized the corporate gifting landscape by integrating technology, creativity, and logistics to create deeply meaningful and personalized gifting experiences. Her leadership and vision have driven the company's impressive growth across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United States, positioning CADO as an innovator on the global stage. This article explores ten compelling facets of Leila Al Marashi’s career and impact, revealing how she has redefined luxury gifting while contributing to the broader business and cultural arenas.

1. The Entrepreneurial Journey and Professional Background

Leila Al Marashi’s entrepreneurial journey is marked by resilience and innovation. Before founding CADO, she built an extensive career in corporate communications, including serving as Vice President for Corporate Communications at Tabreed, a Mubadala subsidiary. There, she played a vital role in the company’s communications strategy during a major acquisition by ENGIE, showcasing her strategic leadership. Her education includes a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the American University in Dubai and a Master of Science in European Business from EDHEC Business School. This diverse foundation equipped her with a strong business and cross-cultural perspective crucial for launching a successful tech startup.

2. Founding and Leading CADO Gifting

In 2019, Leila established CADO with a vision to modernize corporate gifting by blending innovation with personalized meaningful experiences. Under her direction, CADO evolved from a modest three-person startup in Dubai into the region’s leading premium gifting platform. The company serves over 500 corporate clients, including global luxury and tech brands like Gucci, Cartier, Netflix, American Express, LinkedIn, and TikTok. Leila’s leadership focuses on fusing creativity with technology to elevate the art of gifting — making it smart, seamless, and emotionally resonant.

3. Innovation in Corporate Gifting

CADO stands out for revolutionizing traditional corporate gifting through its tech-driven platform that delivers curated, customizable gifts with an emphasis on cultural authenticity and storytelling. Leila’s approach ensures that companies can build lasting relationships with clients and employees by offering tailored experiences that go beyond generic presents. This innovative model integrates logistics and data analytics to provide measurable outcomes for businesses, reflecting a modern understanding of gifting as both an emotional and strategic gesture.

4. Strategic Regional Expansion

Under Leila’s guidance, CADO has expanded beyond the UAE, establishing significant presences in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. In Saudi Arabia, CADO is actively building an ecosystem connecting artisans, suppliers, artists, and investors — fostering a collaborative community that adds local creative value to the gifting supply chain. This expansion is part of Leila’s broader vision to embed sustainability and cultural integrity within business practices, reinforcing CADO’s regional leadership while empowering female entrepreneurs and local craftsmanship.

5. Successful Funding Rounds and Growth Milestones

In October 2025, CADO secured $4.5 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Sanabil 500, a prominent MENA venture capital and accelerator initiative, along with a German family office and high-net-worth angel investors. This funding marks a critical milestone, fueling further regional growth and an international launch planned for New York. The investment was secured due to CADO’s strong traction, operational excellence, and a strong client base — a testament to Leila’s strategic vision and the company’s scalable business model.

6. Presence and Impact on Global Markets

Leila’s ambition has propelled CADO onto the international stage, with the company’s market entry into the United States beginning with New York. This move enables CADO to service its multinational corporate clients locally, extend its global footprint, and introduce Middle Eastern creativity and luxury gifting innovation to the US market. Leila emphasizes the importance of personalization and cultural nuance to differentiate corporate gifting practices in today’s interconnected world.

7. Female Leadership and Empowerment

As one of the UAE’s foremost female tech founders, Leila Al Marashi exemplifies female leadership and empowerment in traditionally male-dominated industries. She has been recognized as a leading female entrepreneur and actively supports women’s empowerment initiatives in the Middle East. Her success with CADO not only breaks glass ceilings but also sets an inspiring precedent for other women aiming to lead in business and technology sectors.

8. Previous Ventures and Roles

Before CADO, Leila held key roles at notable organizations including Shell Upstream International and founded SugarVintage Retail and Apparel, a fashion brand reflecting her flair for creativity and cultural storytelling. Her diverse experience across energy, fashion, and communications enriches her entrepreneurial toolkit, allowing her to lead a multi-faceted company like CADO that blends technology with culture and design.

9. Cultural and Artistic Influence

Leila Al Marashi is also known for her cultural and artistic pursuits, blending heritage with modern aesthetics. Beyond her business endeavors, she is an advocate for Emirati culture infused with a contemporary outlook, which resonates in CADO’s brand ethos. She promotes meaningful gifting that reflects cultural values, positioning her enterprise as a bridge between tradition and innovation.

10. Vision for the Future of Gifting

Leila envisions the future of gifting as an intelligent, sustainable, and emotionally engaging practice. She believes corporate gifting will increasingly focus on personalization, sustainability, and authentic storytelling. CADO aims to lead this shift by leveraging technology and community ecosystems to offer gifts that not only express appreciation but also reinforce corporate identity and values. Her forward-thinking strategy ensures that CADO remains at the cutting edge of the gifting economy globally.

Conclusion

Leila Al Marashi’s story is one of visionary leadership, resilience, and innovation. From a career shaped by communication strategy in a major energy firm to founding CADO and redefining the corporate gifting landscape, she represents the new wave of entrepreneurial success in the Middle East. Her emphasis on culture, sustainability, and technology has propelled CADO onto the global stage, while her role as a female leader inspires others to break new ground. As CADO continues to grow, it poses an intriguing question for the future: how will the fusion of tradition, technology, and personalized experiences redefine the global language of gifting?