• Fill your home with Islamic wall art, decorative lanterns and elaborate serveware this Ramadan. Photo: Pan Emirates
    Fill your home with Islamic wall art, decorative lanterns and elaborate serveware this Ramadan. Photo: Pan Emirates
  • Crescent Tree, Dh400, Crate & Barrel.
    Crescent Tree, Dh400, Crate & Barrel.
  • Majestic Marrakesh cushion, Dh129, Pan Emirates.
    Majestic Marrakesh cushion, Dh129, Pan Emirates.
  • Hembjuden cups, Dh69 for six, Ikea.
    Hembjuden cups, Dh69 for six, Ikea.
  • Heritage fountain, Dh600, Danube Home.
    Heritage fountain, Dh600, Danube Home.
  • Jouda crescent makbhar, Dh230, Silsal at Crate & Barrel.
    Jouda crescent makbhar, Dh230, Silsal at Crate & Barrel.
  • Calligraffitti tissue box, Dh220, Kashida at Crate & Barrel.
    Calligraffitti tissue box, Dh220, Kashida at Crate & Barrel.
  • Al Barakah Islamic wall art, Dh280, Racha Elabbas Studio at Crate & Barrel.
    Al Barakah Islamic wall art, Dh280, Racha Elabbas Studio at Crate & Barrel.
  • Mazz tray in gold and white, Dh129, Pan Emirates.
    Mazz tray in gold and white, Dh129, Pan Emirates.
  • Dinner napkin, Dh81, Racha Elabbas Studio at Crate & Barrel.
    Dinner napkin, Dh81, Racha Elabbas Studio at Crate & Barrel.
  • Stance horse decor accent, Dh199, Pan Emirates.
    Stance horse decor accent, Dh199, Pan Emirates.
  • Hembjuden multicoloured cushion cover, Dh29, Ikea.
    Hembjuden multicoloured cushion cover, Dh29, Ikea.
  • Asra placemat in champagne, Dh7 each, Pan Emirates.
    Asra placemat in champagne, Dh7 each, Pan Emirates.
  • Hembjuden rug, Dh695, Ikea.
    Hembjuden rug, Dh695, Ikea.
  • Nextonix dining chair, Dh495, Pan Emirates.
    Nextonix dining chair, Dh495, Pan Emirates.
  • Hikayat crescent 14-piece majlis set, Dh249, Home Centre.
    Hikayat crescent 14-piece majlis set, Dh249, Home Centre.
  • Hashem table candle lantern in matte gold, Dh199, Home Centre.
    Hashem table candle lantern in matte gold, Dh199, Home Centre.
  • Khatt calligraphy tri-bowl in satin gold, Dh99, Home Centre.
    Khatt calligraphy tri-bowl in satin gold, Dh99, Home Centre.
  • Home decor stores offer both traditional Islamic art as well as pop culture accessories for Ramadan. Photo: Pan Emirates
    Home decor stores offer both traditional Islamic art as well as pop culture accessories for Ramadan. Photo: Pan Emirates
  • Three-piece diffuser candle and room spray set, Dh70, RedTag.
    Three-piece diffuser candle and room spray set, Dh70, RedTag.
  • 12-piece espresso set, Dh75, RedTag.
    12-piece espresso set, Dh75, RedTag.
  • Three-piece pleated Kingsie comforter set, Dh275, RedTag.
    Three-piece pleated Kingsie comforter set, Dh275, RedTag.
  • Crescent moon and star floral arrangement, Dh1,395, flowers.ae.
    Crescent moon and star floral arrangement, Dh1,395, flowers.ae.
  • Crescent moon rose arrangement box, Dh1,295, flowers.ae.
    Crescent moon rose arrangement box, Dh1,295, flowers.ae.

Home decor trends and tips for Ramadan 2022: crescent trees and Moroccan motifs


Panna Munyal
  • English
  • Arabic

A serving platter in chunky marble with gold leaf handles. A mabkhara burner with a crescent moon topper. A home fountain with water cascading down varying sizes of Arabian vases.

Home decor stores are pulling out all stops when it comes to furniture and accessories for Ramadan this year, as Covid-19 restrictions ease and socialising plans are in full swing.

Fahed Ghanim, chief executive of Majid Al Futtaim — Lifestyle, goes so far as to say the holy month is gearing up to be “one of the busiest sections for our homeware category”.

Scroll through the gallery above to see decor options for Ramadan from stores across the UAE.

Psychological appeal

“Home decor has a major impact on one’s mood,” says Adel Sajan, managing director, Danube Group. “Your home is a safe haven, a place where you feel like you belong, and one that reflects your personality and style. When you decorate your home for the holy month, the same feelings apply. The right furniture and accessories can create a sense of peace and invoke the spirit of the season.”

Hridesh Methwani, marketing head of Pan Emirates Home Furnishings, says that decorating is an emotional process that can bring the family together and infuse a sense of festivity. “It also makes you feel nostalgic, bringing back beautiful memories and leaving you with the hope of making new memories together with family and friends.”

Accordingly, Ramadan furniture collections often comprise traditional designs and patterns, albeit with some contemporary tweaks.

Trends for the season

Crescent moon trees can come pre-decorated, or you can decorate the tree with your family. Photo: Crate & Barrel
Crescent moon trees can come pre-decorated, or you can decorate the tree with your family. Photo: Crate & Barrel

Moroccan motifs are all the rage this season, with tile, ogee and latticework patterns spotted in various collections. We love the black-and-white rug from Ikea’s Hembjuden Ramadan collection, designed by British artist Jennifer Idrizi; and the Marrakesh cushion from Pan Emirates.

Islamic-themed accessories are another popular category at this time of year. “Creating prayer nooks and hanging Islamic decor is a great way to prepare for the holy month. Islamic-themed wall art and lanterns can be used to create a spiritual atmosphere,” says Sajan.

Racha Elabbas Studio offers wall art with pleasing geometric patterns that feel at once conservative and contemporary. These are available from Bloomingdale’s, Crate & Barrel and Ounass.

Serveware is perhaps one of the most effective additions to your iftar and suhoor table, with most home decor brands offering artisanal dinnerware, centrepieces and tea sets. We love the Calligraffiti tissue box by Kashida and dinner napkins by Racha Elabbas Studio, both stocked at Crate & Barrel; the Mazz decor tray and Asra placemats from Pan Emirates; and Ikea’s traditional cups and teapot decorated with a Moroccan flower pattern.

Contemporary accessories can make your space feel modern and lively — just ensure they are tasteful. Crescent moon trees, which were all the rage last year, are back in stores (Crate & Barrel does one with green LED lights) and we’re also loving the “Ramadan Mubarak” pop art cushions from Pan Emirates and colourful Moroccan tile-inspired cushion covers from Ikea; and indoor and outdoor home fountains from Danube.

When it comes to gifting options, home decor items are a good choice in addition to dates and sweets. Think wall clocks with Islamic elements, fragrance oils and diffusers, bedding sets, vases, candleholders and figurines.

Secure your investment

Furniture with subtle metallic accents will be on point all year round. Photo: Pan Emirates
Furniture with subtle metallic accents will be on point all year round. Photo: Pan Emirates

As for how to make more expensive furniture work even after the holy month is over, Sajan says: “Investing in good furniture, like a couch or dining set, will not go to waste just because Ramadan is over. You can simply add different cushions or other accessories to make the space work throughout the year.

“When shopping for Ramadan, it is a good idea to think long-term and select pieces that can be modified for future use. For example, if you want more seating space in your home for Ramadan, you can buy ottomans, bean bags or single seaters that do not take up too much space while also serving the purpose. In terms of dining furniture, an extendable table is a good investment as it can host all your guests for iftar and then be folded back to regular size on other days.”

Methwani reiterates the sense in choosing versatile pieces. “Gold, silver and other metallic accents will work perfectly all year round. You can also infuse accents such as marble, acrylic and glass, as they are trending now.”

Dos and don’ts

Sajan shares his top yays and nays when it comes to tweaking your decor during the holy month.

  • Do create a dedicated space in your home for prayer, and adorn it with Islamic art, rugs and shelves to stack Islamic books.
  • Do organise your pantry and decide in advance what you’ll be cooking each day. Arrange cooking equipment for ease of use and make sure they’re all in working condition. If not, invest in good-quality kitchen appliances, cutlery and dinnerware.
  • Do ensure you have enough seating to accommodate all your guests if you plan on hosting a lot of get-togethers. Invest in a majlis or a large dining set to meet your requirements.
  • Do burn bakhoor in your home to ensure it smells appealing. Bakhoor burners are available in a host of stunning designs that add to your interior’s visual appeal.
  • Do keep bar cabinets unlit in order to not draw attention.
  • Don’t display obscene or vulgar decor or wall art, nor depictions of living objects as these are against the rules of Islam.
  • Don't keep ashtrays on the coffee table.
  • Don’t display fruits or sweets on the dining table during fasting hours.
The specs: 2018 Jaguar E-Pace First Edition

Price, base / as tested: Dh186,480 / Dh252,735

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder

Power: 246hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 365Nm @ 1,200rpm

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km

Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters

The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.

 Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.

A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.

The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.

The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.

Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.

Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment

But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.

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Cricket World Cup League Two

Oman, UAE, Namibia

Al Amerat, Muscat

 

Results

Oman beat UAE by five wickets

UAE beat Namibia by eight runs

 

Fixtures

Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia

Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE

Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia

Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
How much of your income do you need to save?

The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.

In other words, you will not save enough to retire comfortably. If you save 15 per cent, you can forward to another 43 working years. Up that to 40 per cent of your income, and your remaining working life drops to just 22 years. (see table)

Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.

 

Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
  • Wear a protective helmet
  • Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Khalid%20Fahad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Shaima%20Al%20Tayeb%2C%20Wafa%20Muhamad%2C%20Hamss%20Bandar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

'The Batman'

Stars:Robert Pattinson

Director:Matt Reeves

Rating: 5/5

Cricket World Cup League 2

UAE results
Lost to Oman by eight runs
Beat Namibia by three wickets
Lost to Oman by 12 runs
Beat Namibia by 43 runs

UAE fixtures
Free admission. All fixtures broadcast live on icc.tv

Tuesday March 15, v PNG at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Friday March 18, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Saturday March 19, v PNG at Dubai International Stadium
Monday March 21, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium

Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
While you're here
The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Price: from Dh155,000

On sale: now

Updated: March 24, 2022, 3:35 AM