Back
There’s a particular buzz that rolls through D3 each November. You feel it on the Waterfront Terrace as people drift between pavilions, families pause for a photo, and designers explain an idea with their hands as much as their words. That buzz is back. Dubai Design Week returns for its 11th edition from Tuesday 4 November to Sunday 9 November 2025, taking over Dubai Design District with installations, exhibitions, talks and hands-on sessions.
The big idea: community
This year’s theme is “Community,” in step with the UAE’s Year of Community. In simple terms, that means work designed to bring people together rather than keeping them at arm’s length. Expect pieces you can step into, sit on, touch and talk around. It’s a social lens on design, not just a visual one.
What you’ll see across D3 District
More than 30 large-scale outdoor installations will turn courtyards and walkways into an open-air gallery. Designers, architects and brands are using the city as their canvas, exploring climate, materials and the way people naturally gather. It’s the sort of programme that rewards a slow wander, a second lap and a visit after dark.
One headline work anchors the public programme: When Does a Threshold Become a Courtyard? by Some Kind of Practice, this year’s Urban Commissions winner. It rethinks the Emirati courtyard for shared city life, shaped by climate, craft and those everyday rhythms that make a place feel lived in.
Downtown Design and Editions on the Waterfront
Down on the Waterfront Terrace, Downtown Design returns as the region’s leading design fair, running Wednesday 5 to Sunday 9 November. It’s where international brands sit alongside regional studios and you can actually handle pieces, meet the makers and see what’s coming next. Alongside it, Editions focuses on limited-edition art and design, bringing together collectible furniture, ceramics, prints and works on paper from a wide range of galleries and studios. Both are easy to pair in a single visit. Some elements are ticketed, while the wider district remains free to explore; select workshops and talks may require advance registration.
Roll up your sleeves
Design Week isn’t only about looking. The pop-up Maker Space hosts a full programme of workshops and masterclasses for all ages, from quick creative sessions with the children to deeper skills for students and seasoned designers. If you prefer to learn by doing, this is the place to book ahead.
Abwab returns
Abwab, the platform spotlighting voices from across West, South and East Asia as well as Africa, returns with the theme “In the Details.” Think ornament, textiles, surface, memory and the stories that live in craft. It’s consistently a favourite for discovering designers you won’t see everywhere else.
A market with a local heartbeat
A dedicated marketplace inside D3 supports home-grown talent throughout the week. Expect everything from homeware to jewellery and fashion, with plenty of food, children’s activities and live performances to keep everyone happy between installations.
At a glance
This year’s event promises over 30 outdoor installations, including the Urban Commissions winner by Some Kind of Practice, as well as Abwab’s captivating “In the Details,” the ever-popular Downtown Design, Editions, and a lively Maker Space. Whether you’re a designer, a student, or simply someone with a curious eye, Dubai Design Week offers the perfect opportunity to slow down, connect with creative minds, and experience how innovative ideas are transformed into spaces where people genuinely want to spend time.
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