Véro’s Dubai: A Love Affair with the Desert
Dubai has a very special place in my heart.
Long before Bohème by Véro, before Singapore became home, there was Dubai.
I arrived in 1990, when I was just 20 years old, right in the middle of the Gulf War. I ended up staying for a full decade, from 1990 to 2000. It was there that I had my first two children, discovered a completely different way of life and, little by little, began creating clothes and jewellery.
The Dubai I knew then was a very different place. It was smaller, quieter and still had so much desert around it. I remember the beaches, the long drives, the restaurants we loved and the feeling that anything was possible.
Going back today is almost surreal. To see how this magnetic city has transformed — from the Dubai I knew as a young woman to the extraordinary global city it has become — is incredible. Yet somehow, beneath all the skyscrapers and glamour, I still recognise the energy of the place.
And today, I am incredibly proud that Bohème by Véro is sold at Poison Drop in Dubai Mall, with such an amazing team. It feels particularly meaningful to have our jewellery here, in a city that was such an important part of my own story.
The Dune Collection
Dubai also inspired one of our collections: Dune.
The collection was born from the colours and textures of the desert — warm sand, deep blue skies, ancient landscapes and the contrast between something raw and something precious.
We combined pearls and lapis lazuli, creating pieces that feel both organic and sophisticated. It is very Bohème: a little wild, a little luxurious, and always connected to nature and travel.
Where I Go in Dubai
Dubai is obviously a city for incredible shopping, restaurants and hotels, but for me, the best way to experience it is to mix the glamour with moments of simplicity.
One of my favourite things remains walking along the beach at sunrise or sunset. There is something about seeing the skyline from the water that reminds you just how extraordinary this city is.
For shopping, Dubai Mall is an obvious stop, especially to visit Poison Drop and discover the incredible selection of international and independent jewellery and fashion. The mall’s Fashion Avenue brings together some of the world’s most prestigious luxury houses, while newer concept stores are adding a more contemporary edge.
But I also love looking beyond the enormous malls. Dubai has developed a fascinating independent design scene, with concept stores and boutiques tucked into areas such as Jumeirah, Al Wasl and Alserkal Avenue.
For Bohème, I would particularly look at places with a strong point of view — beautiful interiors, independent designers, jewellery, art and resort fashion rather than another conventional luxury boutique.
Eat, Drink & Stay
For dinner, SushiSamba is always fun — colourful, energetic and glamorous, with exactly the kind of international spirit that Dubai does so well.
For something more elegant and Mediterranean, I love Estiatorio Milos at Atlantis The Royal. Greek seafood, beautiful produce and that effortless Mediterranean feeling make it a perfect match for the Bohème spirit.
And when you want the full Dubai experience, there is something wonderful about having dinner somewhere spectacular and then staying for cocktails. This is a city that knows how to make an evening feel like an occasion.
For hotels, I would choose somewhere with personality rather than simply the biggest or tallest building.
Bulgari Resort Dubai has that sophisticated Mediterranean-meets-Dubai feeling, with beautiful architecture and a more intimate atmosphere.
One&Only Royal Mirage is another favourite for its Arabian atmosphere, gardens and beachfront setting.
And for something contemporary and design-led, look at The Lana – Dorchester Collection. Dubai’s hotel scene has become incredibly diverse, from ultra-luxury resorts to smaller, characterful boutique hotels. (Visit Dubai)
Beyond Dubai
And then, when I need to escape the city, I go further.
Drive towards Fujairah, where the landscape changes completely, and continue towards Oman. The mountains, coastline and incredible diving are a reminder that the UAE is much more than skyscrapers and shopping malls.
This is one of my favourite things about the region: within a few hours, you can go from one of the most futuristic cities in the world to mountains, desert and the sea.
My Dubai
Dubai was where I became a mother, where I began creating, where I discovered my love for jewellery and where I learned that you can reinvent yourself.
That is why returning here always feels different.
I don’t simply see the spectacular skyline. I see the young woman I was at 20, arriving in the middle of the Gulf War, not knowing where life would take her.
And perhaps that is why Dubai and Bohème by Véro make so much sense together.
Both are about transformation. Both are about freedom. Both are about taking something unexpected and turning it into something beautiful.
Dubai was part of my beginning.
And today, I am incredibly happy that Bohème by Véro has found its place here too.
