ArtDayME: Under the patronage of Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and member of the Dubai Council, Dubai Design Week (DXBDW), the Middle East’s leading platform driving creativity and innovation in design, opened yesterday. Organised in strategic partnership with Dubai Design District, a member of TECOM Group PJSC, and with the support of Dubai Culture, the event is being held at Dubai Design District (d3) until 12 November. 

According to Media Office, Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum officially inaugurated the ninth edition of Dubai Design Week, and visited some of its key installations and exhibitions, including the 2023 Abwab commission titled ‘Of Palm.’ Designed by Abdalla Almulla, an award-winning Emirati architect and founder of MULA design studio, ‘Of Palm’ is an architectural pavilion that explores the multifarious uses of the date palm, whilst presenting new iterations of this natural resource.

She also visited the winner of Dubai Design Week’s Urban Commissions, ‘Designest,’ designed by Dubai-based Ahmad Kattan. ‘Designest’ comprises large-scale cylindrical forms inspired by the cultural significance of traditional pigeon towers that can be found throughout the Arabian Peninsula. As part of her tour, She also explored the Refugee Pavilion by Better Shelter and UNHCR, The Royal College of Art Showcase, the d3 Architecture Exhibition in partnership with RIBA, and the Dubai Culture backed ‘Naseej’ by Alzaina Lootah and Sahil Rattha Singh.

Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum: “Dubai Design Week stands as a beacon of creativity and innovation, representing Dubai’s dynamic evolution in steering innovation, creativity, and collaboration in the fast-growing design sector. Dubai Design Week is a celebration of the transformative potential of design and a significant platform for designers, visionaries, and thinkers.

It plays a crucial role in catalysing the growth and development of the creative community in Dubai, solidifying the emirate's status as the design hub of the Middle East. This year's edition is no exception, featuring a diverse and inclusive lineup of artistic and educational events designed to inspire all those interested in arts and culture. I look forward to Dubai Design Week's ongoing contribution to ushering in a new era of design excellence not only in the UAE, but also on a global scale."

Photos: Emirates News Agency (WAM)

Dubai Design Week is the region’s annual creative event, bringing together art and design at Dubai Design District (d3). It is the largest-of-its-kind event and is widely anticipated in the world of design, highlighting its diverse fields through exhibitions and innovative artistic installations. It also hosts talks and workshops across multiple creative disciplines, and competitions, with the participation of more than 500 designers, architects and creative practitioners from over 40 countries. The Dubai Design Week Marketplace will showcase over 80 regional vendors, including 21 Emirati vendors.