GETTING "LUCKY" IN SHARJAH, UAE

If you recall from the blog “Settling in a Foreign Country,” Roger and I had embarked on a desperate mission to find “Lucky’s” and “Pinky’s” furniture outlets in Sharja, the Emirate (state) just north of Dubai. After a three hour search Roger finally called it quits and offered me a blank check to purchase furniture if I could find the place. Ever up for a challenge, it took only one phone call to my friend Anne O’Connell to locate Debbie Nicol who knew the way to Lucky's! Needless to say I took copious notes on how to get there.

Lucky’s is three enormous warehouses of imported hardwood furniture, antiques and decorator items. I understand now why it was so impossible for Roger and I to find the place - it is tucked away in a far corner of Industrial Area 11. As a shopper, you must have an immense imagination since the warehouses are comprised of small narrow aisles between rows of very dusty furniture stacked 2-stories high. Parvez Mohammad is a jewel to work with and happy to accommodate any request just like Flo in the Progressive Insurance commercials.  “Can you paint it red? YES!”  Can you add shelves? YES!”  “Can I have new doors? YES!”  This is a cash enterprise and, even though we are in the UAE where bargaining is an art form, at Lucky’s no bargaining is necessary as Mohammed has already deeply-discounted his goods. 

Give yourself plenty of time to roam the aisles because there is an overwhelming assortment of furniture and decorator items to peruse. You choose the furniture you want which is then put in a container.  Once the container is full of customers' orders, the furniture is fumigated!  This is a good thing since we don’t want any little Arab bugs running around our apartment!    Within a week we received the call that our order was ready, delivery was arranged and a merry band of Lucky’s workers showed up at our door. “Do I get free delivery? YES!”