It took eight months for Emmanuelle Sawko and Alexandra de Montaudouin to find the perfect location for their new concept store and cafe, Comptoir 102. After much searching, they eventually came across a bungalow on Jumeirah Beach Road that ticked all the right boxes. "We found it on Dubizzle," Sawko explains. "The villa was abandoned - no one had lived here for eight years - but it had these really good vibes."
The villa may have undergone a radical revamp before Comptoir 102 opened its doors three weeks ago, but the good vibes are still there. And this has much to do with the ladies themselves. Charming, French and brimming with enthusiasm, these savvy, go-getting mothers-of-three decided a year ago that they would transform their love of design, fashion and food into a business venture.
The two friends, who both moved to the UAE because of their husbands' jobs and met a couple of years ago, were united in their desire to "do something", so they set about creating a concept store that they could fill with the things they love.
"There are some things for the house and some things for ourselves, such as jewellery and fashion. It's a real mix of products and there's also a little coffee shop to come. It's something that's new for Dubai," says Sawko.
"Over the years we have discovered a lot of brands that we've liked and that we've lived with. These are brands that we know, so we've brought them here. What we have tried to do is to bring in brands that aren't in Dubai yet; something new and different," she adds.
It's a masterful mix. There are thousands of products on offer, ranging from sumptuous, fully-customisable sofas by the French brand Caravane and deliciously scented candles by the US-based Sage to high-end jewellery by Aga and "it" bags by Delphine Delafon. There are intricate lamps, colourful bed linens, fashionable footwear, quirky accessories and everything in between.
I wonder whether there was any conflict when the pair were choosing what products to include? "It's quite amazing," says Sawko. "If you look around, we have about 30 brands and around 3,000 products, which is a lot for a new business. All of the products that you see here were picked collectively by Alex and I. Of course, there are products that she likes more than I do and vice versa but there was never any disagreement on anything."
Sawko and de Montaudouin only work with small, boutique companies and in many cases, Comptoir 102 is the exclusive stockist of the brands it carries. The high-end candle brand Mizensir, for example, will only stock its candles in a single location in any given city - and has selected Comptoir 102 as its partner in Dubai.
"All the decoration brands that we work with are small companies. Everything is created manually in small factories. We are not working with huge brands that are impersonal. We know them well. We know how they work," says de Montaudouin.
A great example is the Paris-based designer Matheiu Challières, whose copper-wire La Volière lamps look like intricate aviaries housing families of colourful birds. There are also the glittering LED lamps by Le Deun Luminaires and the handcrafted tableware by Astier de Villatte. "This is something that's very special for us," says de Montaudouin. "It's a ceramic brand but it's all handmade. Each piece takes between two weeks and one month to be made. If you touch them, they are extremely thin and delicate and light. Each piece is unique. Because they are handmade, no two will ever be exactly the same. We find them so pretty, so delicate, so unusual."
The aim was to have a range of items at a range of price points. So, with the jewellery, there are high-end diamond and gold pieces by Inès, pretty pink gold necklaces by Ginette New York and then a selection of items that are "less expensive, funky and easy to wear," says Sawko. "In the whole store, everything is quite casual. Chic but casual. We are trying to have products that are easy to wear and easy to live with."
This is reflected in the design of the store, which is as warm as it is welcoming. It's a space that encourages you to linger. "The first thing that everybody says when they walk in is that they feel relaxed and well," says du Montaudouin.
"I think the main point was to create a homely atmosphere rather than a store-like atmosphere. If you go to our houses, they feel the same as this - you have the same brands and the same objects," adds Sawko.
It's an atmosphere that will no doubt be extended to the coffee shop, once open. A macrobiotic chef has already been hired to create healthy dishes throughout the day. "The idea is to grow as much as possible here and then use it in the coffee shop. We will try to buy organic, local ingredients and serve really healthy food. We won't have a huge menu - we'll have a few salads, a few soups and a main dish every day," Sawko explains.
The plan is also to host design- and art-related events at the store, or have artists creating pieces in-house, says Sawko. "We really want to have people who know about art and design to come here and talk about their art. We want to educate people."
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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The specs
A4 35 TFSI
Engine: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed S-tronic automatic
Power: 150bhp
Torque: 270Nm
Price: Dh150,000 (estimate)
On sale: First Q 2020
A4 S4 TDI
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel
Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic
Power: 350bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh165,000 (estimate)
On sale: First Q 2020
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
New schools in Dubai
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
HAJJAN
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Abu%20Bakr%20Shawky%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3EStarring%3A%20Omar%20Alatawi%2C%20Tulin%20Essam%2C%20Ibrahim%20Al-Hasawi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Tottenham 4 (Alli 51', Kane 50', 77'. Aurier 73')
Olympiakos 2 (El-Arabi 06', Semedo')
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Tenet
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh
Rating: 5/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Glossary of a stock market revolution
Reddit
A discussion website
Redditor
The users of Reddit
Robinhood
A smartphone app for buying and selling shares
Short seller
Selling a stock today in the belief its price will fall in the future
Short squeeze
Traders forced to buy a stock they are shorting
Naked short
An illegal practice
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
How much of your income do you need to save?
The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.
In other words, you will not save enough to retire comfortably. If you save 15 per cent, you can forward to another 43 working years. Up that to 40 per cent of your income, and your remaining working life drops to just 22 years. (see table)
Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.
MATCH INFO
Pakistan 106-8 (20 ovs)
Iftikhar 45, Richardson 3-18
Australia 109-0 (11.5 ovs)
Warner 48 no, Finch 52 no
Australia win series 2-0
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
MATCH RESULT
Al Jazira 3 Persepolis 2
Jazira: Mabkhout (52'), Romarinho (77'), Al Hammadi (90' 6)
Persepolis: Alipour (42'), Mensha (84')
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
Grand slam winners since July 2003
Who has won major titles since Wimbledon 2003 when Roger Federer won his first grand slam
Roger Federer 19 (8 Wimbledon, 5 Australian Open, 5 US Open, 1 French Open)
Rafael Nadal 16 (10 French Open, 3 US Open, 2 Wimbledon, 1 Australian Open)
Novak Djokovic 12 (6 Australian Open, 3 Wimbledon, 2 US Open, 1 French Open)
Andy Murray 3 (2 Wimbledon, 1 US Open)
Stan Wawrinka 3 (1 Australian Open, 1 French Open, 1 US Open)
Andy Roddick 1 (1 US Open)
Gaston Gaudio 1 (1 French Open)
Marat Safin 1 (1 Australian Open)
Juan Martin del Potro 1 (1 US Open)
Marin Cilic 1 (1 US Open)
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
