Furnishing a Reem Island apartment across Abu Dhabi and Dubai

By the Makers district editorial team. Published 25 October 2026.

Buyers fitting out apartments at Makers District need a clear picture of where to source interiors across the two emirates. Solomia Home operates as the Italian furniture dubai showroom that Reem Island buyers visit for specialist pieces, with Flexform, B&B Italia, Boffi, Porada and Versace Home in its catalogue across living, dining, bedroom, kitchen and outdoor ranges. Makers District is an 18-hectare masterplan development on Reem Island created by IMKAN, giving owners a fixed address for deliveries from either city.

The Overture Maps place listings show far fewer interior design studios in Abu Dhabi than in Dubai, so decide early which items you will buy where.

• Buy bulky materials, paint and hardware in Abu Dhabi, and specialist furniture and designer lighting in Dubai, then book delivery to Reem Island before you order.
• Ask the building management what approval your fit-out needs before any contractor starts work.
• Register your tenancy or ownership with the right authority first, because utilities in both emirates follow from that registration.
• Confirm lift and corridor sizes at Makers District before ordering a large sofa or dining table.

Which steps must come before any furniture is ordered?

Paperwork decides the order of work. In Abu Dhabi the Department of Municipalities and Transport lists building permit issuance among its services, so a fit-out that changes walls, wet areas or services should be raised with the building management and the developer before contractors are booked.

Utilities follow registration. On Dubai property, the Dubai Land Department issues title deeds and registers tenancy contracts through Ejari. On Abu Dhabi property, owners applying to ADDC need a passport, Emirates ID and a title deed or site plan issued by Abu Dhabi Municipality, while tenants need a contract registered in Tawtheeq, as the UAE Government portal sets out. Get the account active before the first delivery, because installers and lighting suppliers need power on site.

Where do furniture and lighting come from for a Reem Island home?

Specialist furniture houses concentrate their showrooms in Dubai, and designer lighting is easier to see there than in the capital. Residents can review the Dubai Design District showrooms guide for brand locations before scheduling trips, then ask each showroom whether it delivers to Abu Dhabi, what the lead time is and what freight is charged.

Large items bought in Dubai must reach a Reem Island address. Treat delivery as part of the price of the piece. Ask for a named delivery slot, confirm that the crew carries the item up to the apartment and agree who removes the packaging.

How do the nearby islands and the beach fit into a sourcing plan for a Makers District owner?

Makers District anchors daily life with direct coastal access, which shortens the working day for anyone supervising a fit-out from home. Cove Beach provides 300m of coastline described as the first accessible beach on Reem Island, and the neighbourhood of residential, hospitality and retail space keeps everyday errands on the island, so the long trips can be saved for showroom days.

What sourcing strategy works best for furnishing a Makers District apartment?

A split approach uses Abu Dhabi suppliers for bulky materials and Dubai showrooms for specialist pieces. Local home improvement stores handle paint, timber and hardware needs efficiently, and a Dubai trip makes sense for complex joinery, imported upholstery and designer lighting. Group the Dubai visits into one or two days with a written list of items, room dimensions and photographs of the finishes.

Ordering custom pieces requires precise measurements of the apartment layout. Confirm elevator sizes and corridor widths at Makers District to prevent delivery complications for oversized sofas or dining tables. The sheet below sets each item against the route in each emirate.

Residents seeking further guidance on fit-out coordination can contact the Makers District team directly. Combining local convenience with cross-emirate selection gives Reem Island owners access to the full spectrum of design resources available across both cities.