• 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

New Ikea opens in Abu Dhabi: customers can now visit the Al Wahda Mall store


Farah Andrews
  • English
  • Arabic

The brand new Ikea at Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi has opened its doors.

Opening at 1pm on Wednesday, November 18, the Swedish furniture store welcomed a score of customers, who were keen to browse the selection of homeware and furniture in the new 2,100-square metre store.

Located on the first floor of Al Wahda Mall, it is the capital's second Ikea store, along with the 33,000-square-metre Yas Island location, and the fifth in the UAE.

Located in the centre of the city, the smaller Ikea is expected to be a more convenient place to shop. It will stock "approximately 2,000 low and medium-sized ready-to-assemble furniture and home essentials", the company said.

A bedroom set-up in the new Ikea store at Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
A bedroom set-up in the new Ikea store at Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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

Within the store, there is a Swedish cafe serving dine-in and takeaway food, including favourites such as the shawarma, the hot dog and Swedish pastries.

"We are thrilled to bring a new City Store Ikea concept to the people of Abu Dhabi, a concept that brings the Ikea experience closer to people's homes with the mall's strategic and central location," says Vinod Jayan, Ikea's UAE and Oman managing director, about the opening.

"We will offer a wide range of home furnishing ideas with well-designed furniture and home accessories that is affordable for all. Visitors will also be able to enjoy our classic treats such as the hot dog, the shawarma and more."

Ikea, Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi is open now; Sunday to Wednesday, 10am-10pm; Thursday to Saturday, 10am-midnight; ikea.ae/AlWahda

'The Sky is Everywhere'

Director:Josephine Decker

Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon

Rating:2/5

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

The specs

Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed

Power: 271 and 409 horsepower

Torque: 385 and 650Nm

Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
The specs

Engine: Turbocharged four-cylinder 2.7-litre

Power: 325hp

Torque: 500Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh189,700

On sale: now

Children who witnessed blood bath want to help others

Aged just 11, Khulood Al Najjar’s daughter, Nora, bravely attempted to fight off Philip Spence. Her finger was injured when she put her hand in between the claw hammer and her mother’s head.

As a vital witness, she was forced to relive the ordeal by police who needed to identify the attacker and ensure he was found guilty.

Now aged 16, Nora has decided she wants to dedicate her career to helping other victims of crime.

“It was very horrible for her. She saw her mum, dying, just next to her eyes. But now she just wants to go forward,” said Khulood, speaking about how her eldest daughter was dealing with the trauma of the incident five years ago. “She is saying, 'mama, I want to be a lawyer, I want to help people achieve justice'.”

Khulood’s youngest daughter, Fatima, was seven at the time of the attack and attempted to help paramedics responding to the incident.

“Now she wants to be a maxillofacial doctor,” Khulood said. “She said to me ‘it is because a maxillofacial doctor returned your face, mama’. Now she wants to help people see themselves in the mirror again.”

Khulood’s son, Saeed, was nine in 2014 and slept through the attack. While he did not witness the trauma, this made it more difficult for him to understand what had happened. He has ambitions to become an engineer.

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