Shaping the future of design with Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President of Dubai Design District (d3), part of TECOM Group PJSC

Dubai Design District (d3) was launched by TECOM Group PJSC in 2013 to contribute to the sustainable growth and innovation of the creative industries. This mandate has evolved as our community and impact have grown in the past decade to nurture skilled, forward-thinking talent who will uphold the Emirate’s title as a UNESCO Creative City of Design. Our business district functions as a dynamic ecosystem where industry giants, international studios, regional businesses, start-ups, freelancers and students collaborate, engage and learn from one another.

To empower entrepreneurial talent, we offer in5 Design, a creative start-up incubator by TECOM Group. This incubator provides start-ups and entrepreneurs with simplified business set-up, advisory and mentorship from industry experts, and fully equipped creative facilities like a Fashion Lab and Prototyping Lab. We also facilitate access to potential investors, creating bridges at networking events and amplifying our in5 community at strategic regional showcases such as Dubai Fashion Week and Dubai Design Week. 

Our district also has prominent education institutions that train students and enthusiasts in key creative fields and push Dubai’s design needle forward. Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI) offers the region’s first Multidisciplinary Bachelor of Design. Their annual Graduation Exhibition in d3 is a testament to the versatility and potential of human-centred design thinking in solving pressing global challenges. FAD Dubai focuses on the fashion and luxury industries, covering everything from fashion design and styling to business management. L'ÉCOLE School of Jewelry Arts was an exciting addition to this mix. The institute opened its first-ever regional campus at d3, hosting exhibitions, workshops and masterclasses celebrating the history and craftsmanship of jewellery. 

Exciting and massive opportunities are ahead for the MENA region’s design sectors. Architects, artists and designers are gaining international recognition. Global platforms such as Dubai Design Week, held in strategic partnership with d3, and Dubai Fashion Week, which we co-founded with our partners at the Arab Fashion Council, provide valuable platforms for exposure, partnerships and market entry for international businesses. Dubai secured the world’s highest FDI inflows in the creative and cultural industries in 2023, up 60% from the previous year, reaffirming the Emirate as a global creative hub. 

Two significant markets will determine growth and innovation in the design sectors. Firstly, the influx of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) to Dubai—the highest in the region—has boosted the residential property market and spurred growth in luxury and branded residences. A new JLL report predicts HNWIs will spend approximately $4.4 billion on Dubai’s residential real estate. Businesses must focus on curating bespoke luxury goods, services and experiences to differentiate themselves in a competitive sector. Secondly, MENA represents a vast, vocal and tech-savvy youth population. They are all conscious of their environmental footprint and advocate homegrown brands and culturally relevant collaborations. Businesses must prioritise engaging these audiences by leveraging data and technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and meaningfully investing in sustainability. Brands can curate personalised products and consumer journeys that appeal to regional markets on a local level, adapting to local languages, trends, interests and cultural nuances to build stronger relationships and business resilience. 

International brands across the creative industries now see how vital the MENA market is to their growth plans and business resilience. With growing consumer spending power, a strong appetite for new brands and experiences and a tech-savvy youth population, fashion houses can tap into tremendous and evolving opportunities. Brands like Elie Saab, Karl Lagerfeld and Giorgio Armani have all been major players in the region’s fashion segment. With Dubai reinforcing its status as one of the five global fashion capitals of the world, alongside London, Paris, New York and Milan, even more luxury brands will continue to flock to our Emirate. Dubai’s outstanding real estate performance has opened an avenue for luxury brands to grow, innovate and strengthen business resilience. Collaborations are a proven way for businesses to enter a market or expand their portfolios into adjacent sectors. 

These partnerships cater to a growing appetite for luxury, novelty, and exclusivity, especially as Dubai continues to attract investors under the Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’ and reinforce itself as the world’s best city to live and work in. The art of these partnerships is identifying and crafting bespoke experiences and products for common consumer segments. d3 has secured invaluable partnerships with the Arab Fashion Council for DFW, Italy’s AIPI and Milano Durini Design Association, and there are more in the pipeline, all geared at providing the regional creative community access to new markets, insights and opportunities. Dubai is the best place to expand business networks and opportunities, where so many global brands meet in shared spaces like d3. 

Talent in the UAE has grown tremendously. Alongside attracting businesses and talent, we are now at a stage of exporting homegrown concepts and businesses to the world, reflecting the excellence and richness of our creative community. Government-backed initiatives to strengthen the creative economy are attracting more professionals and entrepreneurs to Dubai, aided by business-friendly legislation and a high quality of life. As a result, Dubai’s design community has become increasingly global, innovative and tech-savvy.  They are crafting a unique native design narrative that reflects the city's pulse, blending local heritage and culture with international influences and design thinking. 

We have businesses in the d3 ecosystem delivering inspiring works that earn international awards and recognition, advancing the sustainability agenda and reinforcing Dubai as a global creative hub. For instance, the Dubai-born and d3-based landscaping firm desert INK has distinguished itself by being a part of award-winning projects such as ‘Terra’ – The Sustainability Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai and The Block, an urban park here in d3. Independent creatives like Aljood Lootah, an Emirati designer, are evolving Arab design traditions and craftsmanship with homeware that appeals to modern tastes. 

Dubai’s architecture and design landscape is growing fast. Outstanding talent is being born here, and even more is coming in as people recognise the vast opportunities emerging in the city and broader region. In Dubai, in particular, there are so many great opportunities emerging with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which prioritises sustainable urban development in Dubai. Architecture, interior design, landscaping, urban planning and all such facets are at play.  At d3, we have nurtured a community home to renowned architecture and design firms, regional studios and emerging and independent talent to spearhead these opportunities.  Our district fosters a dynamic environment suited for collaboration and knowledge sharing. Events like Dubai Design Week, Downtown Dubai (a B2B trade fair for innovative design), and the d3 Architecture Exhibition, which is curated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Gulf chapter on the sidelines of Dubai Design Week, provide invaluable platforms for businesses to raise awareness and forge new partnerships. This keeps Dubai at the cutting edge of design innovation and excellence, which you can see reflected in its architecture and experiences.

Choosing just three feels like an impossible task! There are so many incredible brands and designers to keep an eye on in d3 alone. Archiplexus is a Dubai-based architectural firm that incorporates technologies like AI to enhance creativity and employs a 360-degree approach to development, from designing built environments to the lighting experience. They’ve worked on luxury residential products and massive commercial projects, including the BMW Middle East headquarters and the Dubai Police Innovation Centre, and their footprint is fast growing. desert Ink is gaining traction for its sustainable, award-winning landscaping designs. They have worked on several private and commercial projects, each reflecting their commitment to quality, excellence and sustainability. Lastly, i r Design is an architecture and interior design studio committed to human-focused design. Led by Indu Varanasi, who has more than three decades of experience in the field, this studio has designed universities, commercial districts, cafes and government partners across Dubai.