TLDR:
• Latifa bint Mohammed explores Downtown Design
• Exhibition spotlights cultural innovation and investment
• Showcasing diverse and emerging Emirati designers
DUBAI (The Thursday Times) — Latifa bint Mohammed bint Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, toured the eleventh Downtown Design, Dubai’s flagship design showcase under Dubai Design Week. The exhibition, held in strategic partnership with Dubai Design District (d3) and Dubai Culture, highlights cutting-edge creativity, offering a platform for global brands and local talents. As a driving force behind Dubai’s cultural scene, Her Highness engages with the exhibition’s displays, underscoring its role in promoting design as a pillar of Dubai’s creative economy.
Creativity and innovation
Downtown Design represents the dynamism of Dubai’s creative identity, gathering artists, designers, and entrepreneurs to exchange ideas and expand horizons. The exhibition, showcasing works across multiple design disciplines, empowers local creators with opportunities for growth and interaction with global brands. It’s more than a show; it’s an incubator for innovative solutions and entrepreneurial ideas, encouraging designers to explore investment avenues and contribute to the region’s cultural industries.
Cultural heritage
This year’s Downtown Design featured the ‘Designers from the Emirates’ showcase, a platform curated by Emirati designer Omar Al Gurg, which featured work by over thirty designers from the UAE. This section underlines Dubai’s rich cultural diversity, allowing emerging talents to engage with prominent international brands and creators. The exhibition also includes collaborations with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture and Spain’s B8 architecture studio, reflecting Dubai’s commitment to fostering cultural exchanges and preserving creative heritage across borders.
Emerging designers, limited editions
Among the attractions was the launch of the Middle East’s first fair dedicated to limited-edition art, an initiative celebrating high-quality craftsmanship and new artistic perspectives. Her Highness explored displays by UAE designers and reviewed unique collections by Emirati designer Aljoud Lootah and artist Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim, each blending heritage with innovation. These exhibits reflect a fresh vision of Dubai’s role in the creative economy, offering new ways for local talent to showcase their expertise on an international stage.
Engagement with global brands and art
Her Highness also connected with brands and exhibitors showcasing traditional handicrafts, fusion designs, and interactive installations. These initiatives demonstrate Downtown Design’s role in redefining Dubai’s cultural narrative by blending the city’s modern outlook with its rich artistic legacy. By facilitating collaborations, the exhibition inspires creators to push creative boundaries, solidifying Dubai as a global design hub.
