“Our vision is to enrich a fertile landscape for creative talent, ideas and businesses to grow and thrive. Whether it’s emerging designers operating in our community or international brands looking to infiltrate a new market, we want to show the world that Dubai is the ultimate place to create and inspire”
Dubai Design District (d3) is a global creative ecosystem dedicated to design, fashion, architecture and art. In line with Dubai’s position as the leading business destination for the region and beyond, d3 is an industry-pioneering concept that enables people and businesses to grow and co-create, whilst simultaneously providing a strong platform for creativity. Strategically located in the heart of Dubai, d3 is one of the city’s lifestyle and business district that challenges thousands of people to rethink the regular.
With state-of-the-art infrastructure designed to meet the needs of the industry and a business-friendly framework, Dubai Design District offers creative talent the tools for collaboration and growth, further reinforcing Dubai’s status as a UNESCO Creative City of Design.
Khadija Al Bastaki, Vice President of Dubai Design District (d3), plays a key role in positioning d3 as a global centre for design, art and creativity. Al Bastaki leads numerous strategic cultural and commercial initiatives to cement Dubai’s position as a hub for creativity and talent, and contribute to the emirate’s creative economy.
Her responsibilities include seeking out new ways to enable the city’s creative community, cultivate an ecosystem where creatives can experiment, flourish and inspire and rethink the regular. She also manages the implementation of d3’s business vision and future growth plans.
In an exclusive chat with José Berrocoso, our Lifestyle Editor, Khadija Al Bastaki, Vice President of d3, shares how the creative hub of Dubai is powering region’s talent to provide solutions to the pressing challenges facing the world today.
CityPages Magazine: How would you describe Dubai Design District to someone who has never been?
Khadija Al Bastaki: Dubai Design District (d3) is a futuristic city of creativity. From first impressions, it’s a sleek urban hub thriving with activity and art since we’re home to some of Dubai’s best fashion boutiques, galleries, design studios, architects, trendiest cafes and coffee shops. However, what I consider the essence of d3 is its community. Our ecosystem represents global, regional brands, and start-ups across fashion, product, architecture and interior design. Whether on a regular day or at one of our events, you’ll see creative-minded people from around the world hanging around d3, exchanging original ideas and contributing to the district’s electric and inspiring environment.
CPM: In just a few short years Dubai Design District has firmly established itself as a creative hub, what has been the formula for its successful evolution?
KAB: Our commitment to collaboration and innovation powers our success. Strategic partnerships with Dubai Design Week, Arab Fashion Council, and Sole DXB are building long-term value where we combine our ambitions – to make Dubai a global creative capital – with institutions that share those values. It allows us to pool our resources and offerings to push the envelope and create a more significant impact every year.
That spirit of collaboration extends to the members of our community. We strive to provide a platform to each of our customers, from large corporations to emerging entrepreneurs, that helps elevate their businesses to larger audiences and nurtures opportunities for partnerships with other members of our district.
CPM: What makes Dubai particularly suitable as a location for a design, art & fashion hub?
KAB: Dubai’s strategic location as a bridge between the east and west, paired with the government’s pro-growth economic strategy and initiatives, makes the Emirate an attractive and accessible business destination. Companies of all sizes can benefit from one of the most progressive regulatory frameworks in the world, and government-backed initiatives like the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy are stimulating economic opportunities and investment in the creative industries. This sets the stage for Dubai’s emergence as a global culture and creative centre, drawing skilled talent from around the world to Dubai. Ecosystems like ours, and the sister business districts owned and managed by TECOM Group such as Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City, provide a haven to businesses and talent as they set up or expand their operations, thrive in a growing economy, and engage new and diverse audiences.
CPM: How do you think Dubai Design District has changed the face of the arts and culture industries in the GCC since its opening?
KAB: I’m proud of Dubai Design District’s integral role in strengthening the UAE’s creative economy since its launch in 2013. The purpose of d3, when created by our parent company, TECOM Group, was to provide a home for the region’s design, fashion, and culture communities – a place where trendsetters and forward-thinkers shape the future of design every day. d3 was formed as an interactive ecosystem that houses major brands like Dior, Zaha Hadid Architects, Sconci Art Gallery and more who recognise the importance of adapting campaigns and collections to local preferences. Providing a stage for emerging creatives, start-ups, and students to rethink the regular is also necessary to grow the talent and entrepreneurial pool and keep innovation at the fore. Our complete ecosystem has helped Dubai and the region define an independent artistic and cultural identity that puts our region on the map for creative excellence.
CPM: Events and activations play a major part of the community at d3. How do you think these events are helping to raise awareness and enhance the growth of the community in Dubai Design District?
KAB: Dubai Design District’s calendar of events is essential to community engagement and amplification. Dubai Design Week, Arab Fashion Week, Sole DXB and our Rethink series are part of an overarching effort to showcase the wealth of creativity and talent in our community and the wider region. Every year, the profile of these events grows, attracting art enthusiasts, fashion designers, distributors, media, and other industry stakeholders to see what the city’s creative sphere has to offer and engage the brilliant minds behind it. It opens doors for collaboration and, in the case of young designers and creatives, potential avenues for funding and distribution. We have also had the pleasure of hosting industry heavyweights like Jeremy Scott and designers straight off the Paris Fashion Week runways in past Arab Fashion Week, which expands the network our community has access to.
CPM: What are some of the important elements to maintaining an active and supportive creative cluster such as Dubai Design District?
KAB: Sector-focused districts like d3 are not simply a location where creatives can do business – we provide a living, breathing ecosystem where they can engage, swap insights, innovate and rethink the regular. Everything is designed in the interest of fostering this community. Our events, the retail elements at the ground level, co-working spaces and incubators are tailored to keep nurturing the creative industry and, in turn, the creative economy. The success of our customers is our success, and we remain closely aligned with their needs and the changing landscape of their industries to ensure they have the infrastructure and environment they need to thrive.
CPM: Most of the leading fashion houses and emerging fashion designers settle their projects at Dubai Design District. What’s the main reason? How do you experience Dubai as a fashion city? What makes the city special?
KAB: Dubai’s high quality of life, connectivity and scope of economic opportunities is drawing skilled talent from around the world. This cosmopolitanism sets Dubai’s fashion scene apart. We have a diverse expat population blending global cultures and concepts with our rich Arab heritage, giving way to a unique creative identity that resonates far beyond our borders. A new generation of creatives is bringing innovative design thinking to the industry. Designers in our district, like Amato Couture and Michael Cinco, dress high-profile figures like Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez. We also see the ambition of young designers grow with every season of Arab Fashion Week.
At d3, we aim to anticipate and cater to the needs of this growing community, which is why we are a preferred address for fashion houses and emerging designers. We provide sector-specific infrastructure, tailor-made leasing solutions and value-added products that cater to global corporations, regional SMEs, start-ups and freelancers in one location. d3 is also home to in5 Design, a design-focused start-up incubator by TECOM Group, nurturing entrepreneurship and independent talent. Creative start-ups can access mentorship and advisory, fully equipped creative facilities such as a dedicated Fashion Lab, and a newly launched concept store called Atypical to showcase in5’s community. These allow start-ups to participate in Dubai’s broader ecosystem for potential partnerships and investment.
CPM: Considering that we are talking about everything sustainable, how earth-friendly is Dubai Design District? What are the benchmarks that you are following, and more importantly, how do you plan to keep track?
KAB: Sustainability is integral to our mind-set, and we always seek to promote and achieve a more sustainable creative landscape. Consumers worldwide are becoming increasingly conscious of their carbon footprint, and the creative industry needs to respond transparently. At d3, we are exploring how sustainability is intertwined with the future of design over community panel discussions, events like d3 Architecture Exhibition and the theme of the latest Dubai Design Week. Our parent company, TECOM Group, places ESG at the core of its operating model, in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy and Dubai Net Zero Emissions Strategy 2050.
CPM: What would you say is d3’s ultimate goal?
KAB: As always, our vision is to enrich a fertile landscape for creative talent, ideas and businesses to grow and thrive. Whether it’s emerging designers operating in our community or international brands looking to infiltrate a new market, we want to show the world that Dubai is the ultimate place to create and inspire. With this focus, we hope to contribute to Dubai’s creative economy and cement the emirate’s place among the world’s creative capitals.
