The design community in Dubai is ready to stage the largest celebration of design and creativity in the Middle East, collectively underlining Dubai’s rich and multi-faceted design landscape. When Dubai Design Week kicks off on 24 October, design professionals, residents and visitors will be able to engage in more than 150 events over six days in Dubai Design District (d3) and across the city.

Local retailers, design brands, galleries, universities and institutions will all independently stage events, exhibitions or installations throughout Dubai to invite visitors to discover design by exploring new neighbourhoods and reconnecting with the more familiar. Uncover the creative heart of industrial Dubai through DRAK at Ras-Al-Khor; watch artisans at work and push the door to open studios in d3; wander through Alserkal Avenue and Al Quoz stopping off for chocolate tours, gemology seminars, machine building and more; and, shop cutting-edge design in Jumeriah’s concept stores. For the first time in Dubai, The Royal College of Art (RCA), voted again in 2016 as the world’s leading Art and Design University, will host a series of three design workshops, subsidized by Dubai Design Week, in partnership with d3.

The RCA’s workshops are a fantastic opportunity for Dubai’s developing creative sector. Dubai Design Week is a truly global event bringing in the best international educators, with the city of Dubai at its heart,’ said Cyril Zammit of Dubai Design Week.

Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, Chief Operations Officer of d3, said: ‘d3 is again delighted to be partnering with Dubai Design Week to bring the city of Dubai a wide array of design exhibitions, installations, talks and seminars for everyone to enjoy. At d3, our vision is to become a global design destination and a thriving community for the region’s growing collective of creatives, artists and designers, where they can collaborate, create and inspire. Our partnership with Dubai Design Week is key to achieving this vision and supporting Dubai’s wider city vision of being a knowledge-based economy.

Moza Suwaidan, Director Projects & Events at Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) added: “We at Dubai Culture are delighted to support this vibrant expression of design, held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority. As one of the leading design events in the Middle East, this occasion goes a long way towards supporting the Dubai design sector. Furthermore, the global significance of Dubai Design Week is in tandem with Dubai Culture’s mandate to showcase the Emirate as a hub for arts, design and creativity and is also in line with the Authority’s commitment to guide and nurture creative young talent, which it fulfils by supporting designers with year-round design initiatives.

For design lovers and the design curious

One of Design Week’s missions is to promote international design to the MENASA region. Artemide Showroom celebrates the history of contemporary design with pieces by Norman Foster, Naoto Fukasawa, Jean Nouvel and many more. La Galerie Nationale is transformed into a typical French apartment with 140 pieces of original art and design from the 20th and 21st century at their Inside Decorative Art exhibition and Custot Gallery Dubai showcases French artist Bernar Venet’s steel sculptures, works on paper and paintings inspired by maths and science. Spanish design takes centre-stage at The Odd Piece with a collection of furniture and lighting by Dal­ and Gaud­; Superstudio displays accessories and select furniture pieces by the UK’s leading designer Tom Dixon; and Athath focuses on Danish homeware with a pop-up from HAY. Super Future Design teams up with Moroso with an ephemeral botanical installation JUNGLEMANIA inspired by Africa by renowned designers including Tord Boontje, Patricia Urquiola and Sebastian Herkner, and NAKKASH Gallery reinvents luxury outdoor living with an innovative, open-air installation featuring designs by DEDON.

In turn, regional culture and creative talent is promoted to international visitors across the city. Design boutique O’de rose displays jewellery, products and photography inspired by Islamic architecture at Arabesque Archi-Lab, whilst MONTROI Studio shows creative interpretations of nomadism through the eyes of different artists. Kvadrat & Maharam presents Pilotis, its first curtain collection by renowned British/Indian design duo Doshi Levien, whilst Mishmashi launches its limited-edition Poof! Collection. Cecilia Setterdahl explains the complex and challenging process of turning a canvas into a carpet at Canvas Carpets Cushions’ Open Studio. IWAN MAKTABI launches its Abstract carpet collection; Emirati designer Khalid Shafar celebrates the weaving talents of Afghan women with his Button Up Collection in collaboration with charitable carpet initiative FBMI; and Bahar Gafla jewellery collection chronicles nomadic history in the UAE. s*uce ROCKS exhibits Salama Khalfan’s handmade modular wearable design pieces, and MONOGRAM expands its Escaping Flatland collection which transforms statistical information on the UAE into 3D-forms made from 18K gold.

Emerging designers present limited edition pieces of Tashkeel’s Tanween design programme at d3; and, at creative hub DiaAgram4, Concept ME hosts a design networking event and screens films directed by Wim Wenders and Peter Greenaway on the role of architecture in cinema, in addition to a collaboration with Cities store of limited edition design by rising design talent. Local cinematic talent is also showcased at Alserkal Avenue where Mohammad Rasoul gives a behind-the-scenes talk Designing Futuristic Arabia on his upcoming sci-fi film, Duneopolis.