Dubai Design Week will return from the 4th to the 9th November 2025, marking its 11th edition under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture.
The event will take place in strategic partnership with Dubai Design District (d3) and is set to expand its presence across the creative hub.
This year’s theme, ‘Community’, reflects the UAE’s 2025 ‘Year of Community’ initiative and will explore the role of design in fostering social cohesion and collective care. With a growing international reputation, the festival continues to serve as a platform for cross-cultural dialogue and design-led solutions across architecture, art, and innovation.
Among the key components of the programme is Downtown Design, returning from the 5th to the 9th of November with leading global brands including Lasvit, Kartell, Poltrona Frau, and Vitra. New exhibitors such as Roche Bobois and Stellar Works will also take part. The event will feature installations, live talks and keynotes, with designer Tom Dixon headlining this year’s Forum.
The UAE Designer Exhibition, supported by Dubai Culture, will present a revised format aimed at nurturing emerging local talent and offering international exposure. According to organisers, more details will be revealed in September.
Editions Art & Design, the region’s first fair dedicated to limited-edition works, will also run from the 6th to the 9th of November with a preview on the 5th of November. It will showcase 50 local and international studios and galleries working across a range of mediums, from ceramics to photography.
The 2025 edition will also see the return of Abwab, now open to applicants across West, South and East Asia, as well as Africa. The initiative’s theme, ‘In the Details’, invites immersive interpretations of ornament and historic forms. Similarly, the Urban Commissions competition calls for community-focused design proposals around the idea of the ‘Courtyard’.
Further highlights include outdoor installations, activations, workshops at Maker Space, and a curated retail Marketplace. The d3 Architecture Exhibition, organised in collaboration with RIBA, will also return in alignment with the wider ‘Year of Community’ values.
Since its inception in 2015, Dubai Design Week has evolved into the Middle East’s leading design festival, providing a space for experimentation, social impact and regional creative growth.
