Salon in Dubai caters to growing Scouser community

A mother from Broadgreen moved to Dubai to start a new life for her family. Sophie Devine, 36, traveled with her husband, John, 37, and fell in love with the city during their visit 12 years ago. They decided to leave Liverpool and move 4,500 miles to Dubai in search of more opportunities. Initially, Sophie worked in retail, while John was an electrician. After having their first child, Leo, now six, Sophie wanted a career change. She opened Pretty Wow, a salon that specializes in hair and beauty services. The salon quickly became popular among the Scouse community and influencers in Dubai. Sophie explained that before her salon opened, it was hard to find everything under one roof. Many customers had to visit different places for hair, nails, and other beauty treatments. Pretty Wow aimed to solve this problem and has since grown significantly. They started with an 18,000 square foot space and now operate an 80,000 square foot salon. The family has expanded since moving to Dubai, now including Leo and their two-year-old son, Benny. Sophie enjoys the lifestyle there, saying it is great for families. While she misses friends and family back home, she appreciates the warm weather and weekend activities like beach outings. Sophie noted that the number of Scousers in Dubai has grown over the years due to the better opportunities available. She also mentioned that trips to Liverpool are manageable, with family visiting frequently. They often return home during the summer or meet relatives in Europe to escape the heat.