Situated in Sharjah and called The Uncommon, there is nothing common about the new desert dining destination.
The space, which popped up seemingly overnight by the Mahafiz-Al Fayah road in Sharjah, is still in its soft opening phase, but that hasn’t stopped pictures of it from going viral. The reason why the cafe is taking social media by storm has a lot to do with its unique design. The exterior of the space is done up with mirrors, reflecting the desert background it is set within. In front of it, there are several tables and chairs set up for those wanting to relax, grab a cuppa and take pictures.
The inspiration for the space came from The Invisible House, a mirror-clad house that was designed to reflect its surroundings in California, says Fawagee Almana, Owner of The Uncommon. “I had heard about the concept before and thought it would work very well in a place such as Mleiha,” she says. “I’ve always had an interest in specialty coffee. It’s been a dream of mine to open my own place. And winter is my favourite season. So why not open something in the middle of the desert?”
In keeping with the ethos, the venue has been designed so people can interact with and enjoy the mirrors. The only entrance and exit is at the back, so that “operations don’t interfere with the beauty of the place”.
