Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), visited Downtown Design 2026, held under her patronage.

The anchor event of Dubai Design Week, the fair brings together international and regional brands, designers and studios, creating opportunities for creative exchange, collaboration and business development.

Her Highness highlighted Downtown Design’s importance as a commercial platform that strengthens collaboration and partnerships by connecting designers and studios with brands, manufacturers and industry professionals, supporting the development of the design sector in Dubai and the region.

Her Highness said: “Ideas can grow into ventures of lasting value when the people behind them have opportunities to connect with the right partners and benefit from professional networks that support their growth. Downtown Design brings these elements together by building connections and collaboration between designers and brands, enabling them to develop their work, explore new possibilities and expand their reach into wider markets. These relationships strengthen the connections across Dubai’s design ecosystem and create a supportive environment in which creative ideas and innovation can flourish.”

Programme Highlights:

Presenting more than 300 brands and designers from over 35 countries, this year's edition of the fair features new collections from leading international design houses, ambitious multi-brand presentations alongside regional designer studios; featuring established names and new participants, including Ethimo, Gaggenau, Kohler, Lasvit, Preciosa, La Chance and Venini, to mention a few. Large-scale multi-brand presentations by Caspaiou, HMA Living by Alshamsi, the Italian Trade Agency, and IF HUB are some of the prominently featured showcases in this year’s fair. 

Special presentations and creative collaborations this year include a dedicated Memphis Milano exhibition, featuring iconic works by Ettore Sottsass and other defining pieces from the movement; ‘Aquae Mirabiles’ by Buccellati, a concept conceived in collaboration with British artist and designer Luke Edward Hall; and the Clicquot Café by Veuve Clicquot, designed by British-Nigerian artist Yinka Ilori under the theme ‘Chasing the Sun’. 

The UAE Designer Exhibition, supported by Dubai Culture, returns with works by 30 UAE-based creatives under the theme Inherited Futures, conceived by architect and designer AlZaina Lootah. Exploring the materials, rituals, industries and ways of making that have shaped design in the UAE, the exhibition considers how a new generation of designers is reinterpreting these influences through contemporary practices. Visitors can explore contemporary furniture, lighting, textiles and objects that draw on traditional craftsmanship, regional customs and the UAE's natural environment. The works reflect a range of approaches to materiality, including the use of agricultural waste, locally sourced clay and reclaimed wood, alongside interpretations of Arabic calligraphy, traditional dressmaking techniques and the majlis as a space for gathering and exchange. 

Designed by Dubai-based architecture and interior design studio BONE, The Forum at Downtown Design presents a programme of keynote presentations, panel discussions and industry conversations featuring more than 50 international and regional practitioners across design, architecture and related creative disciplines.

The programme opened with renowned French interior architect Tristan Auer, who is currently leading the restoration of the Burj Al Arab, discussing the relationship between heritage, contemporary living and craftsmanship. Further highlights include acclaimed British interior designer Katharine Pooley, Omar al Gurg and Mohammed Orfali.