Hello
I am Ouafa Moussi, founder and Director of Dar Wafa, a custom built wellness destination in the urban heart of Adliya. Exclusively for ladies and their daughters, I invite you to experience all the hair, nail and body treatments you would expect from a modern salon-spa as well as our Moroccan-chic baths, hand-painted private outdoor pool pavilion and tree-brushed rooftop terrace cafe. Designed as a boho-Bedouin sanctuary for ladies in need of a moment to themselves or to share with friends and family; Dar Wafa aims to nurture and enhance your well-being, bringing you back into balance with your best self. Whether you’ve walked in for weekly maintenance or a complete transformation, whether preparing for a wedding or recovering from brunch, I want you to walk out empowered and resilient, feeling tangible benefits that last beyond the boundaries of our walls.
“Dar Wafa, from the floor tiles to the doors, from the vibrant brass accents to the vibrant colours and from the range of luxurious treatments to the gorgeous outdoor spaces, is more an experience than a location.”
- Ohlala magazine
Where does the look and feel of Dar Wafa come from?
Like so many of us, I am defined by a variety of lifestyles, languages and self-care preferences depending on my mood and where in the world I am physically. I am French-Moroccan and have been living in Bahrain since 2005. This is where I met and married my husband so it is as much home to me as France and Morocco. Dar Wafa is premium, feminine and boho-Bedouin in styling because that’s what makes all the different parts of me feel at home. I want the ladies who come here to feel invited and comfortable, to know they are getting professional treatment but to feel like they are with a trusted friend.
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Why did you choose to open a place of wellness as your business?
I spent many years working in retail and hospitality, here in Bahrain and in France. It taught me a lot about high-end customer service and products. It also demanded I always look my best by which I mean hair, make-up and nails but also my behaviour in challenging situations. I had to be resilient and seemingly effortlessly chic so of course, going to the salon was routine for me. I needed to be confident I looked my best and I needed to feel replenished and ready to handle anything. I also didn’t always have much time to get that done. So many of my friends and colleagues were the same. Then as well, we had our social lives and pastimes. We moved from work and working out to going out. Sometimes it was casual glamour and the next time something much more magnifique. Dar Wafa is the place I needed to have at that time and even now when my life is a little different, actually. I wanted a place that was honest and straightforward about treatments and prices that was also charming and fun to be in; that listened to what I needed and didn’t try to upsell when I had no time but which could indulge and excite me with something different when I did; where I could go by myself and feel taken care of and where I could go with friends, my sisters, my mother and feel better about the world. My husband’s family have a lot of experience on the business end of personal care, their support has been the foundation for making sure Dar Wafa is what I knew it could be.