A tiny Hong Kong flat furnished entirely with second-hand rattan furniture provided my first taste of independent living almost 20 years ago. Rattan furniture was a feature of most homes I knew at the time, and had been popular, in various forms, in South East Asia since colonial times.
Fast forward two decades, and a visit to the Rattan House showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai offers a new perspective on this most enduring of materials, as I discuss trends, technology and all other things rattan-inspired with the company’s business development director, Shafiq Al Taher.
From a small workshop in Amman, Rattan House introduced rattan furniture to the Jordanian market in the early 1980s. It expanded its operations to Dubai 12 years ago, as the market for outdoor furniture began to take off, with an office and showroom space on Sheikh Zayed Road. Today, the company exports outdoor furniture across the Middle East, with retail outlets in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman, as well as Indonesia.
While the company still has the capability to create natural rattan furniture, its primary focus these days is synthetic rattan, which is made from a polyethylene-based material. A practical response to environmental challenges, synthetic rattan is far better suited to outdoor life in the UAE; the naturally grown variety is likely to be rendered useless in a single season if left out in hot and humid conditions.
The strength of this modern fibre lies in the composition of its material polymers and in the UV and colour treatments that it receives, which need to be carefully balanced to ensure durability and colour fastness. The resultant rattan is highly flexible and durable, and is spooled on to large spindles from which the weavers work.
Rattan House has chosen Indonesia as its primary production site, because, Al Taher explains, “there have always been weavers of natural rattan, which grows there, and production is very skilled. It has been in the culture for many years, so you can easily find artisans to produce a very good-quality product.
“It takes four or five days to weave around the aluminium frame of a three-seater sofa, and it is always just one person working on one piece at a time. The weave needs to be very tight for it to be strong. The beauty of [these pieces] is the craftsmanship; the process is not at all automated and each piece is 100 per cent handmade. ”
Outdoor furniture has long been developed with practicality and functionality in mind. However, increasing attention is now being paid to form, aesthetics and comfort, as people seek to “create an outdoor space that is seen as an extension of their living space, and is pleasing to the eye,” says Al Taher.
It’s therefore essential that outdoor furniture is built to endure (synthetic rattan, with the right care, should last several years), but it’s just as important that it looks good. Synthetic rattan is available in a wide variety of colourways and designs, ranging from ice white to soft grey and earthy brown, with whitewash and grey emerging as the most popular options. The fibre itself is produced in a range of thicknesses and shapes, so that weavers can experiment with designs. Some of this rattan even has a “natural” feel to it, with the look of a loose fibre that leaves you questioning whether it is actually man-made or not.
Rattan House is placing increased focus on design, says Al Taher, and recently teamed up with an international designer to broaden its product offering.
“We got a German designer on board, Oliver Kessler, who specialises in product design, and we told him that we wanted something inspired by the region. We had met Kessler a few times at shows in Dubai. He had designed a punkah fan, made from high-end peacock feathers; it was quite a product.”
The result of this collaboration was the Ablaq Collection, which references Islamic architecture and Arabic calligraphy.
“Kessler has done a beautiful job, maintaining a modern design suitable for anyone who wishes to create a taste of Arabia in their home,” says Al Taher. “The furniture can be further customised with a personal message in calligraphy, which, when combined with LED lights, can cast out shadows of poetry or prose across the wall.
“It is the first time we did the exercise this way, and it’s been so successful that we have continued with designs for another set of modular furniture for the contract business, which will be launched in September this year.”
This new range, Mina, is a response to feedback from clients in the contract and hotel businesses, where there was a requirement for versatile, modular furniture that could be easily moved around to transform the set-up of outdoor spaces. Mina allows a venue to adapt its pool area for evening use, for daytime drinks or shisha at sundown, thereby extending the function of that space and its revenue capability. The same pieces can be used as day beds or dining sets, are easily manoeuverable and can be compactly stored at the end of the season.
Whether intended for residential or commercial use, Rattan House’s furniture combines the strength and durability of synthetic rattan with hard-wearing acrylic-based fabrics for outdoor cushions and upholstery. Designed specifically to withstand sun, humidity and water, and to hold their colour, these fabrics, made by the likes of Sunbella and Etisilk, also come in a range of designs.
“Colours are driven by the trends coming from Europe, where they are inspired by fashion. For example, last year it was all about bright colours, orange, hot pink and lime green, and you can see this reflected in the outdoor areas, too,” says Al Taher.
Whether you have a skinny balcony or a full-blown majlis, if you want real-looking rattan, there are 21st-century permutations for every space, taste and pocket, allowing you to take your indoors, outdoors – at least as long as the weather permits.
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Director: Jon Watts
Stars: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon
Rating:*****
'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness'
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams
Rating: 3/5
EMILY%20IN%20PARIS%3A%20SEASON%203
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The Rub of Time: Bellow, Nabokov, Hitchens, Travolta, Trump and Other Pieces 1986-2016
Martin Amis,
Jonathan Cape
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
FIXTURES
Saturday
5.30pm: Shabab Al Ahli v Al Wahda
5.30pm: Khorfakkan v Baniyas
8.15pm: Hatta v Ajman
8.15pm: Sharjah v Al Ain
Sunday
5.30pm: Kalba v Al Jazira
5.30pm: Fujairah v Al Dhafra
8.15pm: Al Nasr v Al Wasl
Roger Federer's record at Wimbledon
Roger Federer's record at Wimbledon
1999 - 1st round
2000 - 1st round
2001 - Quarter-finalist
2002 - 1st round
2003 - Winner
2004 - Winner
2005 - Winner
2006 - Winner
2007 - Winner
2008 - Finalist
2009 - Winner
2010 - Quarter-finalist
2011 - Quarter-finalist
2012 - Winner
2013 - 2nd round
2014 - Finalist
2015 - Finalist
2016 - Semi-finalist
THE SPECS
Engine: AMG-enhanced 3.0L inline-6 turbo with EQ Boost and electric auxiliary compressor
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 429hp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh360,200 (starting)
The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
Employment lawyer Meriel Schindler of Withers Worldwide shares her tips on achieving equal pay
Do your homework
Make sure that you are being offered a fair salary. There is lots of industry data available, and you can always talk to people who have come out of the organisation. Where I see people coming a cropper is where they haven’t done their homework.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate
It’s quite standard to negotiate if you think an offer is on the low side. The job is unlikely to be withdrawn if you ask for money, and if that did happen I’d question whether you want to work for an employer who is so hypersensitive.
Know your worth
Women tend to be a bit more reticent to talk about their achievements. In my experience they need to have more confidence in their own abilities – men will big up what they’ve done to get a pay rise, and to compete women need to turn up the volume.
Work together
If you suspect men in your organisation are being paid more, look your boss in the eye and say, “I want you to assure me that I’m paid equivalent to my peers”. If you’re not getting a straight answer, talk to your peer group and consider taking direct action to fix inequality.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3ECompany%20name%3A%20Shipsy%3Cbr%3EYear%20of%20inception%3A%202015%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Soham%20Chokshi%2C%20Dhruv%20Agrawal%2C%20Harsh%20Kumar%20and%20Himanshu%20Gupta%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20India%2C%20UAE%20and%20Indonesia%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20logistics%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%20more%20than%20350%20employees%3Cbr%3EFunding%20received%20so%20far%3A%20%2431%20million%20in%20series%20A%20and%20B%20rounds%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Info%20Edge%2C%20Sequoia%20Capital%E2%80%99s%20Surge%2C%20A91%20Partners%20and%20Z3%20Partners%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)
Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)
Saturday
Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Sunday
Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)
Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)
Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
