Nada Onsi is the co-owner of O'Cocoon, the well-known home shop in Abu Dhabi. She lives in Beirut, where she opened the first store 18 years ago. She recently opened a third one in Damascus
You grew up in one of the grand old homes of Lebanon. Have you continued the family tradition of the big formal style?
Actually, no, not at all. My home in Beirut is quite the opposite of the place in which we grew up, and of my stores; I've gone for a neutral palette, sans couleur, nothing too dramatic or glitzy, more of an airy contemporary look. I guess that's probably because I see so much of the "statement" type of decor during the day, in the store and my clients' homes, that after work I welcome something more subtle. I do, of course, have some of the smaller more everyday items from O'Cocoon around the place, be it guest linens, serving dishes or vases, but muted. Part of the art of good decorating is doing what is appropriate to one's space and lifestyle, and that's what works for us there. Perhaps my taste is changing; that does happen and one's home must evolve as one moves through different phases of life. Just as you won't wear the same kind of clothes at 20, 40 or 60 years old, your home also needs to change over time.
But you speak so fondly of the old family home ...
Oh yes, I loved it. It was a 1940s house filled with history and beautiful things: crystal chandeliers, big heavy wooden consoles, huge Persian rugs and a lot of art, including work by my grandfather [the famous Lebanese painter] Omar Onsi. It reflected the rich culture, traditions, religions and history of our family and the country.
My sister Zoubeida, who runs the Abu Dhabi O'Cocoon with me, has the same memories. For both of us, that home nurtured our love of fine things, whether those are big statement pieces or the smallest of details. It also gave us both the view that "home" is one of the most important things in our lives. I think it's a strong part of the Lebanese culture, to aspire to own a home that will provide a place of safety, a haven for the family both today and for generations to come. You'll usually find with Lebanese people, no matter where in the world they live, that they still have a place "back home". It gives us roots for the future and a gathering place today.
What do you like most about your current home?
I love that the whole 400-square-metre apartment - but the living area in particular - is open and spacious enough to have big gatherings of family and friends, where people can come and relax and have a good time. Equally important is the ocean view - I can't live without the sea. We also have a lovely big terrace that serves as a whole extra living and entertaining space and, with the fantastic weather we have in Beirut, we can use it throughout the summer. Some of my decorative pieces are probably not what my clients would expect me to have, such as the wooden African giraffe and contemporary paintings and an old fridge from Harrods. The apartment's not filled with the Limoges, Christofle, Lalique and similar items we stock in O'Cocoon; in fact my most precious things are the paintings done by my daughter Lamia al Jallad, who is an architect but also an extremely talented painter. Apart from being beautiful, they are a link with the past - to my artist grandfather, whose work was all around us as we were growing up - and something for the future, a continuation of a family tradition.
Nevertheless you do have many lovely things. Does this mean people have to "watch out" in your home?
As I've said, beautiful decoration does not necessarily have to come with a high price tag and the essence of home is a place where family and friends can relax. If this means they want to put their feet up and settle down under a blanket, so be it. And if that blanket happens to be a silk throw from Paris, well that's fine too.
Your husband is German. Does he share your taste?
Believe it or not, for the most part yes. He is German by birth but in his soul I think he is now Lebanese. He loves the country as much as I do and so he understands what I'm trying to achieve and enjoys the same lifestyle we all do. Which is not to say that we don't sometimes disagree about what should go where ...
Do you see a difference in how people view the concept of home in the UAE, compared to Lebanon?
I do: as I have said, in Lebanon the idea of owning a home and making it a special place for the family is very strong. Of course we see that here with our Emirati clients, but it's interesting that so few expat women seem to want to do much with their homes here. I understand not wanting to buy big expensive pieces that are difficult to move when their time in this country is up, but there are lots of small things one can do to turn a house or apartment into a home, without spending a fortune. A beautiful vase, for example, with flowers, can transform a room and bring life to a dead space; I can't live without flowers, whether freshly cut, or the beautiful artificial blooms available these days - or the planters of greenery on the terrace. This is particularly true in a country where natural greenery is not plentiful.
Results
2.30pm: Dubai Creek Tower – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: Marmara Xm, Gary Sanchez (jockey), Abdelkhir Adam (trainer)
3pm: Al Yasmeen – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: AS Hajez, Jesus Rosales, Khalifa Al Neyadi
3.30pm: Al Ferdous – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Soukainah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
4pm: The Crown Prince Of Sharjah – Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: AF Thayer, Ray Dawson, Ernst Oertel
4.30pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup – Handicap (TB) Dh200,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: George Villiers, Antonio Fresu, Bhupat Seemar
5pm: Palma Spring – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Es Abu Mousa, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
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
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only. Readers are encouraged to seek independent legal advice.
The biog
Date of birth: 27 May, 1995
Place of birth: Dubai, UAE
Status: Single
School: Al Ittihad private school in Al Mamzar
University: University of Sharjah
Degree: Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Hobby: I enjoy travelling a lot, not just for fun, but I like to cross things off my bucket list and the map and do something there like a 'green project'.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Sting & Shaggy
44/876
(Interscope)
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Fixtures (all times UAE)
Saturday
Brescia v Atalanta (6pm)
Genoa v Torino (9pm)
Fiorentina v Lecce (11.45pm)
Sunday
Juventus v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Inter Milan v SPAL (6pm)
Lazio v Udinese (6pm)
Parma v AC Milan (6pm)
Napoli v Bologna (9pm)
Verona v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Monday
Cagliari v Sampdoria (11.45pm)
TEST SQUADS
Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Shafiul Islam, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed.
Australia: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson and Jackson Bird.
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
The biog
Hobbies: Writing and running
Favourite sport: beach volleyball
Favourite holiday destinations: Turkey and Puerto Rico
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013