Dubai Design Week opens at d3 and runs until 8 November

Dubai Design Week started its 12th edition on 4 November at Dubai Design District (d3). It runs until 8 November. Participants from over 50 countries, including designers, architects and other creatives, are showing more than 40 projects and activities that link cultural heritage with current creative practice.

The event is under the patronage of Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who chairs Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. Dubai Design District, which belongs to TECOM Group, is the strategic partner, and Dubai Culture supports the event.

The schedule covers exhibitions, installations, interactive experiences, talks and workshops on design, innovation and sustainability. Over 25 installations are placed around d3, turning it into an open-air gallery. Their themes include sustainability, cultural identity, material reuse and public spaces.

Downtown Design also opened on 4 November. It gathers over 300 brands and designers, and they come from more than 35 countries. Its Forum has over 30 international and regional speakers, among them designers, architects and other experts, who discuss craftsmanship, materials and the future of design.

Exhibitions and commissions

Abwab returns as "In Other Words". Five newly commissioned works by Dalia Rafeh, Grace Shieh, Kanaka Raghavan, UBIK and VARUSSI share one indoor exhibition for the first time, replacing separate pavilions.

The UAE Designer Exhibition, themed "Inherited Futures", shows pieces by 30 creatives based in the UAE. The theme comes from AlZaina Lootah, an architect and designer.

The winner of Urban Commissions 2026, themed "Atmospheres", is Three Gardens and a Room, designed by the Dubai studio NAO Architects, founded by Reem Nassour.

Workshops and marketplace

More than 50 workshops and sessions cover ceramics, photography, textiles, typography and product design. Student projects involve academic institutions, including American University of Sharjah and the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation.

The Dubai Design Week Marketplace takes place on 7 and 8 November. More than 80 independent makers, artisans and small creative firms from the UAE and neighbouring countries will present ceramics, jewellery, fragrances, fashion and handmade homeware.

WAM reported the details of the programme.