The metallic busts that decorate the new Wonderlab stores have been designed by Swarovski creative director Giovanna Engelbert. Courtesy Swarovski
The metallic busts that decorate the new Wonderlab stores have been designed by Swarovski creative director Giovanna Engelbert. Courtesy Swarovski
The metallic busts that decorate the new Wonderlab stores have been designed by Swarovski creative director Giovanna Engelbert. Courtesy Swarovski
The metallic busts that decorate the new Wonderlab stores have been designed by Swarovski creative director Giovanna Engelbert. Courtesy Swarovski

Swarovski unveils new Wonderlab store at Dubai's Mall of the Emirates


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Swarovski has a revealed a bold new direction at its store in the Mall of the Emirates.

Entitled Wonderlab, the store, which reopened on Friday, has been completely refurbished, and is now decked out entirely in green, with walls lined with hexagonal jewellery boxes, each one filled with a Swarovski treasure.

In a rebrand spearheaded by the first brand creative director Giovanna Engelbert, the new approach has done away with the old navy blue colour, and instead replaced it with vibrant pink, yellow, green and baby blue.

First unveiled as an all-yellow store in Paris, the Wonderlab concept has also opened in New York in two colours, and now arrives in the UAE covered in floor-to-ceiling green.

A wall of jewellery boxes at the new Wonderlab store in the Dubai Mall. Sarah Maisey / The National
A wall of jewellery boxes at the new Wonderlab store in the Dubai Mall. Sarah Maisey / The National

The first of its kind in the region, the space has a plush green carpet, tables where customers can try on the pieces (with green chairs, naturally), and walls covered in pretty jewellery boxes in different sizes.

Green, metallic mannequins in a high-polish finish now show off the new array of jewellery that comes in every colour imaginable: earrings, bracelets, rings and necklaces, some even with invisible settings usually only found in high-end jewellery.

To add to the feeling of being inside a treasure trove, the Swarovski collections have been completely mixed up, so that now a crystal parrot sits next to edgy cube earrings based on the rules of sacred geometry, and children’s earrings in the shape of a ladybird nestle against a chic, chunky lilac stone necklace, perfect for dressing up a T-shirt.

Included, too, is the new company logo, which now appears as a pink neon sign in the window. Under Engelbert's new vision, the swan of old, quietly sitting and looking to the left, is gone, replaced with the same bird with wings raised – as if taking off – and now facing the right. It is a small shift, but an important one, signalling the new direction of onwards and upwards the company is striving for.

A metallic bust in the new Wonderlab store in Mall of the Emirates. Sarah Maisey / The National
A metallic bust in the new Wonderlab store in Mall of the Emirates. Sarah Maisey / The National

As a whole, the new store feels fresh, vibrant and exciting, packed with hundreds of beautiful, glittering pieces that span hoop earrings, tennis-style bracelets and elaborate necklaces.

Whether you are in the mood for shopping or merely looking, there is plenty of eye candy in this dazzling new space.

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- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021

Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.

Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.

Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.

Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.

Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.

Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.

Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”

Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI. 

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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat