Dubai Design Week returns for its 11th edition from 4–9 November 2025, under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, and in strategic partnership with Dubai Design District (d3). Marking a new chapter for the region's leading design festival, this year's theme, 'Community', aligns with the UAE's nationwide 'Year of Community' initiative, spotlighting design's power as a social and civic connector.
© Roche Bobois | Dubai Design Week
Roche Bobois.
'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,' organisers said.
The 2025 edition will expand across its largest-ever footprint at d3, activating the city through a dynamic mix of exhibitions, installations, talks, workshops, fairs, and cultural programmes. Returning signature initiatives include Urban Commissions, themed around the "Courtyard", inviting global designers to reinterpret shared public spaces, and Abwab, now expanded to welcome applicants from across West, South and East Asia and Africa. This year's Abwab theme, "In the Details", calls for immersive experiences that explore cultural ornament and historic forms.
Flagship fairs Downtown Design and Editions Art & Design will take place at d3 Waterfront Terrace. Downtown Design (5–9 Nov) will host global names including Lasvit, Kartell, Poltrona Frau, Vitra, and newcomers Roche Bobois and Stellar Works. Key features include the Solaire Lounge by Veuve Clicquot, and a forum headlined by designer Tom Dixon. Editions (6–9 Nov, preview 5 Nov) returns as the region's first collectible design fair, showcasing 50 local and international exhibitors.
Other highlights include the UAE Designer Exhibition, offering new mentorship and international exposure, and the d3 Architecture Exhibition, produced with RIBA and aligning with the Year of Community by exploring architecture's role in resilience and cohesion.
Outdoor installations, activations, workshops at Maker Space, and the popular curated Marketplace will provide engaging experiences for all visitors, reaffirming Dubai's place as a creative hub and cultural melting pot.
Dubai Design Week continues its mission to 'amplify voices from West and South Asia, as well as the wider Global South,' underscoring its relevance not only regionally but on the global design stage.
More information:
Dubai Design Week
info@dubaidesignweek.ae
www.dubaidesignweek.ae