Yesterday I took myself over to O’de Rose on Al Wasl Road in Dubai.

I had seen their adverts. I had driven by it for years. Always curious, I wanted to explore the place, but never did. Then I heard the American Women’s Association of Dubai planned an excursion to the boutique, and I decided it was time.

O’de Rose is located inside a villa and sells unique items from the region: accessories, jewelry, and clothing, as well as contemporary art, statement furniture, home décor, and tableware.

When I arrived, I was offered a rose flavored drink in a Moroccan tea glass (their signature welcome). I walked through the many rooms of their shop—bigger than I had imagined and filled with a lovely rose scent—I admired the clutch purses, bohemian necklaces, chic mirrors, tea glasses, and coffee cups, as well as embellished tunics and t-shirts.

Shopping in this villa was a welcome change from wandering in the mall. The boutique was spacious and cheerful with sunlight streaming into the windows. I felt relaxed and unrushed.  Everywhere I looked I saw Arabic calligraphy and the hand of Fatima (hamsa), two of my favorite things.

The shop also pays homage to Umm Kuthum, the famed Egyptian diva, regarded by many as the greatest female singer in Arabic music history.

The founder and co-owner Nadine Khoury told me that their products come mostly from Lebanon but also from Turkey and other countries, and occasionally they feature local designers.

As you may have noticed by now, the items generally fall into two categories:

Category 1 – The Exquisite (In this case jewelry)

Category 2 – The Whimsical

And this piece of contemporary art below defies category. Each block is made up of little silver burqas.

As for prices, O’de Rose is not a exactly a place for bargain hunting. Shop manager Rana Tohmé Grassi explained that because their products are designed and crafted by artisans (rather than mass produced in China), their prices reflect this. For example, the t-shirt below, embellished with the hand of Fatima (hamsa), goes for 380 dirhams (about $100).

In case you are wondering what I bought. Well. I came home with a small brass hand of Fatma platter (165 dirhams), a scarf with an Arabic calligraphy border (110 dirhams), a simple tunic (145 dirhams) and a t-shirt embellished with swarovski crystals, (regularly 370 dirhams, marked down to 145). So, actually, it is possible to find a bargain here. And all of it smells like roses–literally.

Below is my last shot of the boutique; I can’t resist.

O’de Rose was recently nominated for a Grazia Style Award, its category: Best Boutique in the UAE. You can vote here. The shop was also reviewed in the New York Times Travel Guide.

A little getaway in the city, O’de Rose is located in Dubai, Um Sequim 2, on Al Wasl Road across from Choirtram’s. This boutique also sells a range of their items at Galleries Lafayette in Dubai Mall.  Also, find O’ de Rose on Facebook and now Pinterest.

Question: Have you visited O’ de Rose?