• Finishing touches being made to the new Ikea store at Al Wahda Mall. Victor Besa / The National
    Finishing touches being made to the new Ikea store at Al Wahda Mall. Victor Besa / The National
  • The store is set to open on Wednesday, November 18. Victor Besa / The National
    The store is set to open on Wednesday, November 18. Victor Besa / The National
  • The new Ikea store will be the first in the centre of the city. Victor Besa / The National
    The new Ikea store will be the first in the centre of the city. Victor Besa / The National
  • The new outlet will be spread over 2,100 square metres on the first floor of Al Wahda Mall. Victor Besa / The National
    The new outlet will be spread over 2,100 square metres on the first floor of Al Wahda Mall. Victor Besa / The National
  • The store is smaller than other Ikea outlets in the UAE. Victor Besa / The National
    The store is smaller than other Ikea outlets in the UAE. Victor Besa / The National
  • A look inside one of the finished rooms at Ikea, Al Wahda Mall. Victor Besa / The National
    A look inside one of the finished rooms at Ikea, Al Wahda Mall. Victor Besa / The National
  • There will be Christmas stock to buy at the new store. Victor Besa / The National
    There will be Christmas stock to buy at the new store. Victor Besa / The National
  • Ikea store staff practise social distancing on the shop floor. Victor Besa / The National
    Ikea store staff practise social distancing on the shop floor. Victor Besa / The National
  • The store will stock 'approximately 2,000 low and medium-sized ready-to-assemble furniture and home essentials'. Victor Besa / The National
    The store will stock 'approximately 2,000 low and medium-sized ready-to-assemble furniture and home essentials'. Victor Besa / The National
  • For all other products, customers will have digital access to the full range. Victor Besa / The National
    For all other products, customers will have digital access to the full range. Victor Besa / The National
  • Customers can place their orders in-store to have them delivered or opt for online delivery. Victor Besa / The National
    Customers can place their orders in-store to have them delivered or opt for online delivery. Victor Besa / The National
  • There will be a Swedish cafe at the store, where customers can dine-in or take away food. The affordable hot dogs, shawarmas, meatballs and pastries are fan favourites. Victor Besa / The National
    There will be a Swedish cafe at the store, where customers can dine-in or take away food. The affordable hot dogs, shawarmas, meatballs and pastries are fan favourites. Victor Besa / The National
  • Products have already been put out on display at the new store. Victor Besa / The National
    Products have already been put out on display at the new store. Victor Besa / The National
  • Ikea store staff practise social distancing on the floor area. Victor Besa / The National
    Ikea store staff practise social distancing on the floor area. Victor Besa / The National
  • A member of staff tags items ahead of opening. Victor Besa / The National
    A member of staff tags items ahead of opening. Victor Besa / The National
  • The store is the fourth Ikea in the UAE. Victor Besa / The National
    The store is the fourth Ikea in the UAE. Victor Besa / The National
  • The other Ikea stores are located at Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi ... Victor Besa / The National
    The other Ikea stores are located at Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi ... Victor Besa / The National
  • ... And at Festival Plaza and Dubai Festival City malls in Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
    ... And at Festival Plaza and Dubai Festival City malls in Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
  • Finishing touches are put on the store's Christmas display. Victor Besa / The National
    Finishing touches are put on the store's Christmas display. Victor Besa / The National
  • Room displays are ready at the store. Victor Besa / The National
    Room displays are ready at the store. Victor Besa / The National
  • A vanity display within the new store. Victor Besa / The National
    A vanity display within the new store. Victor Besa / The National
  • An Ikea bedroom display being finished. Victor Besa / The National
    An Ikea bedroom display being finished. Victor Besa / The National

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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

Farah Andrews
Farah Andrews
Dubai

November 11, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

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.

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
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."

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If you go

The flights

There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.

The trip

Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.

The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.

 

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