Inside Ikea Al Wahda Mall: an exclusive look inside Abu Dhabi's latest store

The furniture store is to open in the UAE capital next week

Finishing touches are being made in the new Ikea shop at Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi.

Room displays have been assembled, shelves are stacked and the cafe is ready to welcome customers. The Christmas display is also assembled and ready for the start of the festive season.

A second Ikea opens in the capital

The shop is set to open on Wednesday, November 18, spread across 2,100 square metres on the first floor of the mall, which will be the first in the centre of the city. Ikea already has a store on Yas Island, as well as two shop in Dubai – one at Festival City and another at Festival Plaza mall.

Click through the gallery above for an exclusive first look inside Ikea, Al Wahda Mall.

The Al Wahda Mall branch of Ikea will open on November 18. Victor Besa / The National

It is significantly smaller than the UAE's other three stores – the Yas Island store is 33,000 square metres and the Festival Plaza mall store is 35,000 square metres, the biggest in the UAE.

It will stock "approximately 2,000 low and medium-sized ready-to-assemble furniture and home essentials", the company said.

For all other products, customers will have digital access to the full range and can place their orders in-shop to have them delivered to their homes or the store.

"Al Wahda Mall remains a top destination for shopping, entertainment and leisure in the heart of Abu Dhabi, so we are thrilled to be able to bring our new Ikea concept store to this location," says Vinod Jayan, Ikea's UAE and Oman managing director.

"The full size Ikea store in Yas Island, which has operated on an area of 33,000 square metres since 2011, will continue to be the go-to destination for the complete inspiring Ikea experience, so our goal is to create a closer glimpse of that experience at the heart of the Abu Dhabi Island."