Dubai Design Week is returning with its 10th edition from November 5 to November 10, spotlighting the local creative and design talents. Together with its anchor event, Downtown Design, it will take place at Dubai Design District (d3), where over 500 designers and brands from over 40 countries will showcase their artworks and design objects through exhibitions, installations, and experiential mediums.
Over the past 10 years, Dubai has transformed into a global design hub. Not only have foreign brands taken over the scene, but local design talents have also experimented and expanded the boundaries and limits of contemporary design. Thanks to this, Dubai has evolved into a global sensation.
Dubai Design Week’s program is diverse and educational, consisting of such different series of installations, workshops, and talks as Editions, the region’s first limited-edition art and design fair; Urban Commissions, an annual competition offering architects and designers the chance to create outdoor furniture for public spaces, emphasizing responsible and resilient design practices; and Abwab, a collection of commissioned installations and pavilions open to artists and practitioners from Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) region.
Dubai Design Week, a product of Dubai’s development, economic diversification, and evolving urbanization, has become a key platform for designers of all levels to showcase their work, network with industry professionals, and gain visibility across the Middle East and beyond. Its commitment to supporting local talent and promoting the identity of Dubai as an innovative and thriving city of design and creativity made it rise to the level of the region’s largest design festival.
Amplifying the region’s talent and providing new opportunities in design, this festival offers a free-to-attend program with futuristic and visionary events. Held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture, in strategic partnership with Dubai Design District (d3), a member of TECOM Group PJSC, and supported by Dubai Culture.
This year’s theme, Tawila, meaning “table” in Arabic, represents a platform for human interaction and dialogue in creative spaces. As the table unifies people, fostering communication, so will this year’s Dubai Design Week connect ideas and traditions.
Dubai Design Week’s workshops program, hosted in a pop-up Maker Space in Dubai Design District (d3), offers opportunities for participants to pursue, practice, and refine various skills with design collectives, independent makers, universities, small businesses, and cultural institutions sharing their expertise. Alongside this, the event’s talks program brings together a diverse lineup of regional and international designers, creatives, and thought leaders to exchange ideas, debate, and provide insights into the industry.
Downtown Design, the leading design fair in the Middle East and a key event of Dubai Design Week, catalyze the region’s creative growth by showcasing both established and emerging names in international design. The fair features the latest collections, innovative solutions from global brands and manufacturers, and limited-edition works by studios and independent designers, focusing on highlighting rising regional talent. With an emphasis on high-quality, contemporary design, Downtown Design offers exhibitors commercial opportunities and enhanced brand visibility, connecting them with relevant audiences in the market.
Held during the festival weekend, Marketplace showcases the region’s finest artisans, entrepreneurs, and small businesses, offering high-quality, original products. It celebrates craftsmanship, featuring diverse creators, from chocolate makers to ceramicists, while providing unique experiences and food pop-ups alongside family-friendly activities. The represented brands focus on handcrafted, sustainably produced goods, often made with locally or regionally sourced materials.
