Aline Avak Kamakian

A food enthusiast, Aline Kamakian began her career as an insurance broker at the age of 18 to put herself through college. She graduated from Université Saint Joseph with a double master’s degree in Finance and Marketing. Her skills as an insurance broker enabled her to establish one of Lebanon’s top nine brokerage firms, IIC – Insurance & Investment Consultant.

Throughout her successes, Aline never lost sight of her passion for food, nor did she ever forget her Armenian roots.

In June 2003, she opened Mayrig, an avant-garde traditional Armenian restaurant, to introduce the forgotten flavors of Mother Armenia to all those who appreciate homely, healthy, and tasty cuisine.

Since then, Aline has ventured into new concepts, launching a catering service in 2004, Batchig in 2013, and Mayrig Boutique in 2014. She expanded Mayrig internationally with new branches in Dubai (2013), Riyadh (2016), the Maldives (2017), Yerevan (2018), and Cairo (2022), with more projects expected soon. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, she also launched a dark kitchen and delivery brand, Lahmajun, to safeguard the jobs of her front-of-house staff. Lahmajun operated from four locations in Beirut and ten kitchens in Dubai in 2020.

Between 2010 and 2011, Aline dedicated herself to co-writing her first cookbook, Armenian Cuisine. Her research for traditional recipes took her on a journey to Cilicia—present-day Eastern Turkey—the historic Armenian land her grandparents fled following the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

After the Beirut port explosion, Aline managed to keep her businesses afloat and her entire team employed despite the lasting damages. She united her staff with a spirit of resilience and worked closely with World Central Kitchen and Chef José Andrés to provide meals for more than 1,000 families daily using her restaurants’ kitchens.

By the end of 2021, Aline launched her own retail brand, Kamakian—a line of high-quality Armenian products, homemade by Armenian and Lebanese mothers. The brand supports over 400 farmers across Lebanon, from Anjar in the Bekaa Valley to Jbaa in the South, and from Bolonia in Metn to the shores of Anfeh. These products are sold in boutiques across Lebanon, Dubai, and the Maldives, as well as online at www.kamakian.store.

In early 2022, Aline successfully completed the Corporate Directors’ Program by Excellence in Governance Lebanon Chapter and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

She has also received numerous recognitions. In 2014, she was voted Women Entrepreneur of the Year at the Brilliant Lebanese Awards organized by BLC Bank. She currently serves as treasurer and board member of the Lebanese Franchise Association (LFA). In response to Lebanon’s economic crisis, she co-founded the Lebanese Private Sector Network (LPSN) alongside leading business figures, where she also serves as treasurer. In addition, Aline is a board member of the Lebanese League of Women in Business (LLWB) and a proud alumna of the 2014 Vital Voices Fellowship Program.