Furnishing a new home can be daunting at the best of times, let alone if you have just moved to a new country.
Here, we've broken down a few fail-safe starting points, from the shops to browse for essentials to Facebook groups that sell an entire apartment's worth of furniture in one go, with international brands and home-grown favourites to choose from.
Second hand
Dubizzle
You can find almost anything for sale in the classified sections of Dubizzle, the UAE's version of Craigslist or Gumtree. People sell individual items as well as entire rooms' worth of furniture if they are moving or renovating. There is always room for some haggling, or "best price?" texts, as anyone who has ever sold on Dubizzle will certainly know.
Top tip: As you would with a car, search for specific brands. If you know you like the aesthetic of certain stores, searching for that in the Dubizzle classifieds is worth a go. Although it's unlikely you'll get the exact piece you had your eye on in the mall, you could find something very similar.
Facebook groups
There are plenty of second-hand furniture Facebook groups in the UAE, such as Buy&Sell Abu Dhabi & Dubai Second Hand and EK Cabin Crew Buy And Sell, to neighbourhood-specific pages like the JVC 2nd Hand Selling Page and Al Reem Island Community Items For Sale, and the more specific Upcycled Furniture Buy & Sell Dubai. They aren't all necessarily furniture-specific – you will see clothes, toys and cars posted, too, but entire homes' worth of furniture and accessories can be posted, often for good prices. It's worth joining a few and keeping an eye on them if you are looking for budget-friendly pieces quickly.
Top tip: You will often have to request to join the group, so plan ahead. But be ready to act fast when you see something you want, sellers are often looking for the quickest buyers, not necessarily the highest price.
Annie Sloan Furniture Renovation
Similar to the Upcycled Furniture Buy & Sell Dubai group is the Dubai Annie Sloan Furniture Renovation Group. Best described as a furniture renovation community, you will find people giving tips on how to best upcycle furniture using Annie Sloan chalk paints, as well as people who are selling second-hand pieces that they have already upgraded.
Top tip: This is where to look out for statement pieces, rather than items to furnish an entire home.
Vintage Finds
Find the Abu Dhabi upcycler and painter Vintage Finds on Facebook. The page features country and farmhouse-style furniture that has often been given a new lease of life with a good coat of paint.
Top tip: There are pieces posted for sale that have already been renovated, and the team also offer furniture refurbishing and painting services.
More information is available at www.facebook.com/VintagefindsAD
Custom pieces
Lucky Furniture
It won't take long for newbies to the UAE to hear about Lucky Furniture. The Sharjah warehouse sells solid-wood antique and antiqued furniture. The pieces can be bought as they come, or customised to the colour and size you are looking for. A good-sized dining table costs anywhere between Dh1,500 and Dh2,500 – although some of the antiques are on sale for as much as Dh15,000.
R2R Furniture
Located in the Jebel Ali Industrial Area is R2R Furniture, a company that will make custom beds and sofas for you. Simply show them a photo of a piece you have seen online with your required dimensions, and the company can recreate it for you. The company also offers reupholstering services to give older pieces of furniture a new look.
It is worth noting that R2R Furniture is only one such company – plenty of people you speak to will have experience dealing with similar outlets, and it's always worth following recommendations and testimonials from happy customers.
More information is available at www.r2rfurniture.com
New furniture, high-end
All of the main international brands are represented in the malls of the UAE, but there are also stores that have been launched in the Emirates that are well worth checking out, too.
West Elm
For the more contemporary shopper, with an eye for quality and some money to spend, West Elm is the store for you. The US store has outlets at Dubai Mall and Dubai Hills Mall, and Abu Dhabi's The Galleria Al Maryah Island and Yas Mall. Catering for the whole home, you will find pieces for bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and gardens in store.
More information is available at www.westelm.ae
Marina Home
Premium interiors store Marina Home started life as a warehouse in Dubai and now has stores in malls across the region. You will find heavy wooden furniture, statement accessories and standout decor in store, with pieces often sourced from across the Middle East, or items inspired by Arabic and Asian designs. Find Marina Home at Abu Dhabi Mall and Reem Mall in Abu Dhabi; in Al Barsha, Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and City Centre Mirdif in Dubai; and at Sharjah's Sahara Centre. You can also shop online.
More information is available at marinahomeinteriors.com
Pottery Barn
Another classic American brand, Pottery Barn caters to homely homemakers, with a full store collection as well as more playful kids' and teen ranges. Find Pottery Barn Dalma Mall, The Galleria Al Maryah Island and Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi, Dubai Hills Mall, Dubai Mall and Mirdiff City Centre in Dubai.
More information is available at www.potterybarn.ae
The One
This UAE-born store was conceptualised by Swede Thomas Lundgren as an "antidote" to Ikea. So expect personality by the barrel at this stylised furniture store. It offers living-room pieces, bedroom furniture, kitchen essentials and accessories and items for younger shoppers. There are stores across the UAE, including Dubai Hills Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Al Quoz, Jumeirah Beach Road and Jumeirah 1 in Dubai and at Al Ain Mall, Yas Mall and in the Mushrif Area in Abu Dhabi.
More information is available at www.theone.com
Crate and Barrel
For a more minimal aesthetic, turn to Crate and Barrel. The store has a focus on living and dining accessories and furniture, which means they sell everything from coffee-makers and egg timers to new sofa sets. The brand also sells bedroom furniture, so kitting out an entire home from Crate and Barrel is not an impossibility. In the UAE, there are only Crate and Barrel outlets in Dubai, at Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Mall and City Centre Mirdif in Dubai.
More information is available at www.crateandbarrelme.com
New furniture, budget-friendly
Dragon Mart
For anyone looking to kit out a new home, a visit to Dragon Mart shouldn't be too far from the top of their to-do list. It is not only a place to buy furniture; it offers toys, food and electronics and is also a go-to for outdoor furniture, bedding and even renovation pieces like tiles and lighting. You will need to be prepared to spend time browsing a good number of stores, but the pay-off will be worth it when you get a full garden set for close to wholesale prices. Dragon Mart is in Dubai on Al Awir Road.
More information is available at www.dragonmart.ae
CB2
CB2 is a sister brand to Crate & Barrel, focused on selling more affordable furnishings. The brand sells primarily contemporary pieces and minimalist pieces and is located at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai.
More information is available at www.cb2.ae
Jysk
Jysk, pronounced yusk, is another chain of Scandinavian furniture superstores. There is almost always a sale in store, and you can pick up everything from storage solutions to accessories, beds, towels and sofas. Find Jysk in Dubai on Umm Suqeim Street, at City Centre Mirdif and Nakheel Mall and at World Trade Centre Mall, The Galleria Al Maryah Island and Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi.
More information is available at jysk.ae
Ikea
It is very likely you will be familiar with Ikea, the Swedish flat-pack furniture giant. Most of us have an item or two from the store in our homes, whether it's a bed, a wardrobe, a kitchen or merely cutlery and tumblers. There are a number of Ikea superstores across the UAE, including in Dubai Festival City, and on Yas Island and at Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi. There's also an Ikea ordering and collection point in Al Ain near Bawadi Mall. The company offers paid-for installation, assembly and delivery services.
More information is available at www.ikea.com/ae/en
Pan Home
At a Pan Home, formerly Pan Emirates, sale you will find sofas for as low as Dh300 and full dining sets from about Dh500, which proves that homes can be personalised on a budget. Naturally, not all of the pieces in store hover around low prices, but there are certainly bargains to be found. Pan Home has 17 stores across the UAE, including at Madina Mall and on Umm Suqeim Street in Dubai; at World Trade Centre Mall and Deerfields Mall in Abu Dhabi; on Al Wahda Street in Sharjah; in Al Ain Mall; in Al Hamra Mall, Ras Al Khaimah; and in Haleefath in Fujairah.
More information is available at www.panhomestores.com
Home Centre
Having started as a single store in Sharjah in 1995, Home Centre has grown to become a popular wallet-friendly option, with more than 100 stores in the Middle East and India. It offers everything from lighting and kids' accessories to bath and laundry items, bedroom decor and living-space essentials. There are 14 stores across the Emirates.
More information is available at www.homecentre.com
2XL
The brand offers classic furnishings with ostentatious finishings, as well as minimalist accessories that would please many a millennial eye.
It is worth browsing 2XL for some of your finishing touches and to add personality to your home. Find 2XL at the Regus Building and City Centre Al Zahia in Sharjah; on Al Muntasir Road in Ras Al Khaimah; in Abu Dhabi at Marina Mall, The Galleria Al Maryah Island and Dalma Mall; in Al Ain Mall; and in Dubai on Al Wasl Road in Jumeirah and Park Centre Mirdif.
More information is available at www.2xlme.com
Watch Out For Sales
It is often said that you don't need to buy anything for full price in the UAE. Of course, when needs must, you will purchase the essentials, but it is also worth holding out for Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, Ramadan, Dubai Shopping Festival, the Abu Dhabi Summer Shopping Season and Dubai Summer Surprises sales. Prices are slashed at malls across the UAE, with interiors and home stores regularly having some of the best bargains.
Listen to Extra Time
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Factfile on Garbine Muguruza:
Name: Garbine Muguruza (ESP)
World ranking: 15 (will rise to 5 on Monday)
Date of birth: October 8, 1993
Place of birth: Caracas, Venezuela
Place of residence: Geneva, Switzerland
Height: 6ft (1.82m)
Career singles titles: 4
Grand Slam titles: 2 (French Open 2016, Wimbledon 2017)
Career prize money: $13,928,719
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
The bio:
Favourite holiday destination: I really enjoyed Sri Lanka and Vietnam but my dream destination is the Maldives.
Favourite food: My mum’s Chinese cooking.
Favourite film: Robocop, followed by The Terminator.
Hobbies: Off-roading, scuba diving, playing squash and going to the gym.
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%3Cp%3ECreated%20by%3A%20Darren%20Star%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Lily%20Collins%2C%20Philippine%20Leroy-Beaulieu%2C%20Ashley%20Park%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202.75%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
JAPAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
'Dark Waters'
Directed by: Todd Haynes
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, William Jackson Harper
Rating: ****
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
MO
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RACE CARD AND SELECTIONS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
5,30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
6pm: The President’s Cup Listed (TB) Dh380,000 1,400m
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Group One (PA) Dh2,500,000 2,200m
7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Listed (PA) Dh230,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
The National selections
5pm: RB Hot Spot
5.30pm: Dahess D’Arabie
6pm: Taamol
6.30pm: Rmmas
7pm: RB Seqondtonone
7.30pm: AF Mouthirah
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
LIVERPOOL SQUAD
Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner, Naby Keita, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Joe Gomez, Adrian, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, Andy Lonergan, Xherdan Shaqiri, Andy Robertson, Divock Origi, Curtis Jones, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Neco Williams
ANALYSTS’ TOP PICKS OF SAUDI BANKS IN 2019
Analyst: Aqib Mehboob of Saudi Fransi Capital
Top pick: National Commercial Bank
Reason: It will be at the forefront of project financing for government-led projects
Analyst: Shabbir Malik of EFG-Hermes
Top pick: Al Rajhi Bank
Reason: Defensive balance sheet, well positioned in retail segment and positively geared for rising rates
Analyst: Chiradeep Ghosh of Sico Bank
Top pick: Arab National Bank
Reason: Attractive valuation and good growth potential in terms of both balance sheet and dividends
Mobile phone packages comparison
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
UAE%20Warriors%2045%20Results
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The specs: 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Price, base / as tested: Dh101,140 / Dh113,800
Engine: Turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder
Power: 148hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm @ 2,000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed CVT
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
A meeting of young minds
The 3,494 entries for the 2019 Sharjah Children Biennial come from:
435 – UAE
2,000 – China
808 – United Kingdom
165 – Argentina
38 – Lebanon
16 – Saudi Arabia
16 – Bangladesh
6 – Ireland
3 – Egypt
3 – France
2 – Sudan
1 – Kuwait
1 – Australia
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
