Second-hand furniture is on the rise in the UAE: 'We need to be more conscious'


Janice Rodrigues
  • English
  • Arabic

Most high-street and high-end furniture stores in the UAE have a strong mall and online presence, so buying pieces is just a few steps or clicks away.

However, a series of new enterprises – with a focus on all things old – are urging residents to rethink the way they curate their homes.

La Brocante: pop-ups for pre-loved furniture

Kitschy community space La Brocante launched in Dubai at the end of 2020, giving residents access to a vast collection of high-end, vintage and upcycled second-hand furniture.

The space, which translates as The Flea Market from French, holds bi-weekly pop-ups in Al Quoz, where people can sip on coffee from Loose Unicorns, check out work from local artists and get their hands on an eclectic range of pre-loved products.

A visit reveals a delightfully curious collection, including a coffee table made from an elephant saddle and a lacquered, hand-painted Chinese table. Elsewhere, antique-looking beds, lawn chairs, original film posters from the 1950s and Rajasthani chests of drawers are scattered around.

For a look at some of the products and their prices, scroll through the gallery above. 

Natasha Fownes, founder of La Brocante.
Natasha Fownes, founder of La Brocante.

What the products do have in common is that they are all unique.

“We obviously have many different styles and designs, but it has to be something that is vintage, different and can last,” says founder Natasha Fownes.

“We have some brands, but a lot of the products here are one-of-a-kind pieces made decades ago that people have imported from their home countries when they moved to the UAE, but haven’t been able to take back.”

People come for two or three years, so what's happening to the furniture they are purchasing? We need to be more conscious of it

Starting La Brocante during the pandemic wasn’t a coincidence. The idea struck Fownes when several friends left the UAE in 2020, and needed to sell or store their furniture. As someone who has worked in film and live events, and has a warehouse in Al Quoz, Fownes decided to step in.

“We’ve now built our brand to the point where the public knows that they can sell unique products with us. People usually send us a photograph and we give them an offer. It’s a great way to create a circular economy.”

A piece retails for about 50 to 80 per cent of its original selling price, depending on its condition. La Brocante also rents items by the day for a percentage of their price.

“Art directors usually need unique pieces or props for shoots. Renting out furniture helps them cut down the cost, and it’s more sustainable than buying something new for just a few days of use.”

Sustainability and community are driving factors for Fownes, who grew up in Portobello Road, home to one of London’s most famous antiques market.

La Brocante houses an eclectic collection of second-hand furniture. Courtesy La Brocante
La Brocante houses an eclectic collection of second-hand furniture. Courtesy La Brocante

“For me, this way of buying – or conscious consumerism – is normal. And I have not really seen this in the furniture market here. I wanted to create that space.

"Dubai is a great city, a business hub. But it's so transient as well. People come for two or three years, so what's happening to the furniture they are purchasing? We need to be more conscious of it – it's up to us and we are all responsible," she says.

The reaction to the pop-ups are proof that there is a demand. “If you come here on the weekend, it’s like a little community. There’s a DJ, upcycled pieces, a mix of people, energy. It’s booming. You don’t get that when you walk into a [regular furniture] shop.”

Decosouq: selling second-hand furniture online 

Fellow pre-loved furniture concept Decosouq also came into being in late 2020. According to its founder, Emir Tumen, the e-marketplace has grown month on month.

Decosouq works as an end-to-end platform, meaning it oversees the entire process. Sellers upload images of their second-hand products to the website, which allows them to then connect – and bargain – with buyers. Once a deal is struck, the buyer pays through Decosouq. Both the buyer and seller agree on a pick-up date, with the website's logistics team managing the assembly and delivery.

Well-shot images in natural lighting may help sell a second-hand piece faster. Courtesy Decosouq
Well-shot images in natural lighting may help sell a second-hand piece faster. Courtesy Decosouq

The buyer has 48 hours to confirm the product is authentic, after which the money is sent to the seller’s account. If there is additional damage, the buyer is given the option to return the product or ask for a bigger discount.

Thousands of people have been selling furniture during the pandemic, says Tumen. Decosouq's bestsellers include seating, dining and storage solutions. But this isn't the company's only source of business.

“We have had hundreds of small businesses and antiques dealers who could not open their showroom during the pandemic and had excess stock, so they started using Decosouq,” he says.

Tumen believes the pandemic has led to a thriving second-hand market for many reasons.

Storage cabinets are some of the most popular products on Decosouq.
Storage cabinets are some of the most popular products on Decosouq.

“The more people were at home, the more they were spending on refurbishment and home improvement. Since a lot of people started working from home or were home-schooling their children, there was an increase in demand for home office and school sets-ups.

“At the same time, not everyone could afford high-end brands. Considering the current situation, people were cautious about how they were spending, and would look for economical options. There are also a lot of people who are still not comfortable going to physical stores and are looking for digital solutions,” he says.

For those thinking about selling furniture online, Tumen recommends taking photos, preferably in daylight, that do the pieces justice, including details about damage to be respectful to buyers, and pricing items reasonably. The main idea, he says, is to rehome furniture, "not make money off it".

Kave: fixing and upcycling furniture 

Rania Kanaan, co-founder of Kave, stands in front of the Alserkal Avenue cafe. Courtesy Kave
Rania Kanaan, co-founder of Kave, stands in front of the Alserkal Avenue cafe. Courtesy Kave

While there are new players advocating second-hand goods, home-grown concept Kave goes one step further – by making a case for not buying anything if it can be fixed or upcycled.

“The first question my mum would ask when getting rid of furniture is: has it really reached the end of its life? If the answer is no, why you are throwing it out? The precursor to upcycling is repair. Try to fix what you have,” says Rania Kanaan, who founded Kave with her sister, Zaina.

Kave is an expansion of their bicycle brand Charicycles, through which they design, customise and upcycle bike frames. To date, Charicycles has saved more than 1,500 kilograms of steel from landfill and donated more than 100 bicycles to children in refugee camps.

Kave makes a case for fixing or upcycling damaged goods instead of throwing them away. Courtesy Kave
Kave makes a case for fixing or upcycling damaged goods instead of throwing them away. Courtesy Kave

However, with bicycles being a seasonal business in Dubai, the sisters launched Kave in 2019 to keep the company sustainable. Today, it operates as a space where people can shop for fair trade products, learn how to upcycle through workshops and eat healthy, hearty food.

“Kave aims to tell the stories of things we buy so that we are more mindful of our consumption habits and the impact they have on the environment, the manufacturers and the communities beyond any one person’s reach,” says Kanaan.

The space practises what it preaches, with the cafe in Alserkal Avenue boasting furniture made from discarded wood and lighting made from glass bottles.

The furniture from Kave is made using discarded wood, while lamps have been upcycled from bottles. Courtesy Kave
The furniture from Kave is made using discarded wood, while lamps have been upcycled from bottles. Courtesy Kave

“Upcycling is a new concept worldwide … the idea is to change people’s perception. So, we presented something that is beautiful and once people liked it, we told them the backstory. That made any negative stereotype of used, sustainable and ‘old’ items vanish,” says Kanaan.

When asked about the benefits of fixing used products, she rattles off a slew of points.

“The furniture industry is one of the most polluting, least sustainable on the planet. By avoiding purchasing new items, you can reduce your ecological footprint significantly,” she says.

Buying or repurposing used furniture is less wasteful, helps prevent deforestation, limits plastic production and reduces carbon emissions, she says.

“Pre-loved furniture is economical and kinder to the environment. Just because something is no longer in front of you, it doesn’t mean it has disappeared. It is probably in a landfill somewhere hurting the environment.

"We often think that once something is in the garbage, it is no longer affecting us, but in reality, we all share this planet and waste will eventually pollute what you ingest. So be more aware and kind.”

Abramovich London

A Kensington Palace Gardens house with 15 bedrooms is valued at more than £150 million.

A three-storey penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront bought for £22 million.

Steel company Evraz drops more than 10 per cent in trading after UK officials said it was potentially supplying the Russian military.

Sale of Chelsea Football Club is now impossible.

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

Expert advice

“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”

Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles

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Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre 

“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”

Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
 

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Last 10 NBA champions

2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

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Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

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Price, base / as tested Dh57,000

Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine

Transmission Six-speed gearbox

Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm

Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km

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  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
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  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Ministry of Interior
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Transmission: Eight-speed auto
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On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

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Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors

Transmission: two-speed

Power: 671hp

Torque: 1050Nm

Range: 450km

Price: Dh601,800

On sale: now

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  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
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  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the German parliament that. Russia had erected a new wall across Europe. 

"It's not a Berlin Wall -- it is a Wall in central Europe between freedom and bondage and this Wall is growing bigger with every bomb" dropped on Ukraine, Zelenskyy told MPs.

Mr Zelenskyy was applauded by MPs in the Bundestag as he addressed Chancellor Olaf Scholz directly.

"Dear Mr Scholz, tear down this Wall," he said, evoking US President Ronald Reagan's 1987 appeal to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)

What is THAAD?

It is considered to be the US' most superior missile defence system.

Production:

It was first created in 2008.

Speed:

THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.

Abilities:

THAAD is designed to take out projectiles, namely ballistic missiles, as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".

Purpose:

To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.

Range:

THAAD can target projectiles both inside and outside of the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 93 miles above the Earth's surface.

Creators:

Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.

UAE and THAAD:

In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then deployed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.

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Saturday results
Qatar beat Kuwait by 26 runs
Bahrain beat Maldives by six wickets
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Monday fixtures
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Saudi Arabia v Kuwait
Bahrain v UAE

* The top three teams progress to the Asia Qualifier

Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company

The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.

He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.

“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.

“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.

HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon. 

With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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China

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UAE

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Japan

5

Norway

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Canada

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Singapore

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Australia

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Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

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