Abu Dhabi’s homegrown brands are an interesting counterpoint to its glitzy shopping centers and designer labels. From artistry that highlights Emirati aesthetics and nostalgia, to barbershops with specialty brews, and shoe shops that would turn any sneakerhead into a kid in a candy store, here are some of the must-visit spots for a true taste of its local contemporary culture.
Haircuts and hangouts
A café, barbershop, and streetwear store rolled into one, Local combines the social aspect of barbershop culture with specialty brews and clothing by labels like Stüssy, Aries, and Gramicci. Between the remote workers, friends catching up, and clients getting their beards shaped at the brand’s concrete-clad space in the city’s Al Zeina neighborhood, there’s a tangible sense of community—strengthened by collaborations with fellow UAE start-ups Seven Fortunes Coffee Roasters and bakery Miche.
Rare kicks
Hard-to-find Nike Air Jordans, Dunks, and Air Max line the shelves at Amongst Few. Alongside the sneakers, there’s an edition of Soled Out: The Golden Age of Sneaker Advertising as well as other collectible tomes. The concept store in Souq Al Mina, where traditional majlis-style seating is offset with industrial accents and pops of greenery, has amassed a cult following for its in-house clothing label, which combines English and Arabic slogans, graphic designs, and illustrations.
Architectural objects
At Fount, a self-professed “design shrine” at the recently opened interfaith complex Abrahamic Family House, a meticulously assembled selection of puzzles and stationery sit beside ceramic sculptures. At the Louvre Abu Dhabi, it’s worth stopping at the eclectically curated Museum Boutique—a sleek space stocking vases made from waterproof paper and postcards featuring both world-famous painters and local names like Maitha Hazza.
U.A.E. Artistry
When it opened in a Bjarke Ingels–renovated space in 2015, the Warehouse421 gallery brought organic edginess to the city’s port district. The vibe is the same at its shop, Dukkan421, where you’ll find tableware and jewelry by local and regional designers, much of it sustainable. On the shelves are books on Emirati art, and there’s a sense of nostalgia in the Volcano Fountain stickers and a gahwa (coffee) cup sets with the red-flower pattern Emiratis remember from their grandmothers’ homes.
Modern marketplace
In a corner of Yas Mall, Ether by Cloud Spaces offers a riff on the traditional souk, replacing stalls with individually rentable terrazzo-and-metal cubes and gold-and-white racks featuring designs by young regional creatives. Standouts include satin separates by Dubai label Von Kober; Abu Dhabi–based Sara Tamimi’s Victorian-inspired dresses modernized with cotton poplin fabrics, pleats, and drapes; and Dumyé’s handmade sustainable cloth dolls.
Elevated home goods
From its bright and airy shop in Muroor, Bits and Pieces stocks some of the capital’s most intriguing houseware collections. The focus is on handcrafted pieces—sculptural vases, dainty teacups, traditional coffee pots, and painterly plates—with Arabic motifs used sparingly but effectively, most notably on creations by Jordanian tableware brand Silsal, one of the first in the region to give calligraphy a contemporary slant.
Fashionable finds
Open since 1992, Jolie Boutique is one of the city’s longest-standing resortwear stores, showcasing international designers alongside Arab labels in its colorful store in the Fotouh Al Khair Mall. In the Al Bateen neighborhood, Chique La Boutique gathers regional brands under one roof. There are caftans with matching trousers and kimono-style abayas, but it’s the glam eveningwear that draws the city’s fashionable set.
This article appeared in the December 2023 issue of Condé Nast Traveler. Subscribe to the magazine here.
