Dubai Design Week will celebrate its 11th edition this November with its largest ever presence across Dubai Design District (d3), bringing together designers and creative practitioners to collaborate and explore the evolving role of design in shaping a better collective future.

 

This annual celebration of creativity and culture is being held in strategic partnership with d3, a member of Tecom Group and supported by Dubai Culture.

 

Since 2015, Dubai Design Week has grown into a global platform with a strong emphasis on cross-cultural exchange and on amplifying voices from West and South Asia, as well as the wider Global South (encompassing countries across Africa, Latin America, most of Asia and Oceania). 

 

To be held from November 4 to 9, the 2025 edition of Dubai Design Week will explore a central theme of ‘Community’, in response to the UAE’s wider ‘Year of Community’ initiative.

 

This year’s programme reflects this theme through a focus on social cohesion, participation and shared experiences. Design will be explored not only as a practice of innovation, but as a social connector, and as a civic and cultural tool that can shape how we live together, communicate, and build lasting systems of care.

 

Through exhibitions, fairs, large-scale installations, talks and workshops, the festival engages with the narratives of our time, creating a space for dialogue, experimentation and progress, harnessing its position as a regional melting pot and creative hub.

 

Key venues are located across d3, a global creative ecosystem dedicated to design, fashion, architecture and art.

 

Urban Commissions

 

Urban Commissions is Dubai Design Week’s annual competition open to proposals from global practices, giving international architects and designers the opportunity to shape public spaces through thoughtful, community-driven design. 

 

Under the theme ‘Courtyard’, Urban Commissions calls on practitioners to reflect on this shared spatial form and explore its multifaceted role as a gathering place and community-led urban infrastructure.

 

Abwab 2025

 

Abwab, meaning 'doors' in Arabic, is a long-running feature at Dubai Design Week. Newly expanded to welcome applicants from across West, South and East Asia, as well as the African continent, it reflects an ongoing commitment to surfacing design perspectives that can be often underrepresented on global platforms. 

 

This year's theme, ‘In the Details’, invites practitioners to create immersive spatial experiences, exploring ornamental details and engaging with historic cultural forms.

 

The Festival’s programme of exhibitions serves as a platform for cultural organisations, educational institutions, collectives and individual designers to express unique cultural, social and environmental perspectives, showcasing cutting-edge design solutions across disciplines. 

 

Outdoor installations from designers, architects, collectives, creative practitioners, and design-led brands, will explore design’s potential to foster inclusive, community-focused environments through the use of sustainable and socially responsible methods and materials. 

 

Independent makers and cultural and educational institutions will host the festival’s programme of workshops held at Maker Space, offering visitors of all ages and skill levels the opportunity to engage and experiment with a diverse range of artistic mediums. 

 

Alongside this, the activations programme will unveil innovative and immersive projects, cross-disciplinary collaborations, pop-ups, and special presentations. And Marketplace offers a curated retail experience featuring high-quality and original products by the region's finest artisans, entrepreneurs and small businesses, alongside food experiences, children’s activities and live performances.

 

Downtown Design

 

Downtown Design, the Middle East's leading fair for quality and contemporary design, returns to the d3 Waterfront Terrace from November 5 to 9, showcasing the latest collections and design innovations from around the world.

 

Returning exhibitors including Lasvit, Kartell, Poltrona Frau, Obegi Home, Venini, and Vitra will present new concepts alongside new participants Roche Bobois, Stellar Works, Frama, Porada and Desalto. 

 

Designer duo Draga & Aurel will present a solo exhibition for Collectional, and French designer Stephanie Coutas will showcase high-end interiors and collectible design pieces.

 

The fair will feature experiential concepts and immersive installations including the Solaire Lounge by Veuve Clicquot and a pop-up collaboration between Buccellati and design studio david/Nicolas. The Forum returns with live talks and keynotes, headlined by Tom Dixon who will make his Dubai debut.

 

At the heart of Downtown Design, the UAE Designer Exhibition, supported by Dubai Culture, returns with an evolved format after five editions of significant growth, expanding mentorship for emerging creatives and international showcase opportunities. Details will be announced in September.

 

Editions Art & Design

 

Following a successful debut in 2024, Editions, the region’s first fair dedicated to limited-edition art and design, will take place from November 6-9, with a preview on November 5, at the d3 Waterfront Terrace. 

 

The fair will showcase 50 local and international galleries, design studios, and collectives across a diverse range of mediums including: artist multiples, ceramics, photography, works on paper, prints, editions, and contemporary design. 

 

Editions joins an expanding creative ecosystem that enhances access to quality art and design through varied price points and mediums, and engages the region’s collector network through disciplines not widely showcased in the region.

 

d3 Architecture Exhibition

 

The 2025 d3 Architecture Exhibition, organised by d3 in partnership with Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) aligns with Dubai Design Week’s theme in response to the UAE’s wider ‘Year of Community’ initiative and will take place in a dedicated space in the creative district. 

 

Rooted in the UAE’s values of resilience, ambition, and openness, the Year of Community is dedicated to fostering a united and empowered society. It aims to inspire behaviours that strengthen family and social ties, encourage shared responsibility, and unlock potential for sustainable growth.

 

Dubai Design District (d3) is part of Tecom Group’s business district portfolio, including Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Science Park and Dubai Industrial City.-TradeArabia News Service