Design Days Dubai, the Middle East and South Asia’s only collectible design fair, returns to The Venue in Downtown Dubai for its fifth edition with an exciting roster of new and returning exhibitors.




Design Days Dubai presents limited edition modern and contemporary design pieces from the world’s established and emerging galleries and design talent, alongside a public programme of special projects, talks, workshops and guided tours allowing visitors to discover, engage with and acquire the works on display.




The fair has the continued generous support of returning sponsors since its 2012 launch edition, including the strategic partnership with Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, the Emirate’s dedicate Authority for culture, arts and heritage; French high-jewellery Maison Van Cleef & Arpels, Audi and Emaar. 

Retaining its position as the world’s most diverse design fair, Design Days Dubai brings together world-leading design galleries welcoming annual returning galleries Carpenters Workshop Gallery (UK/France/USA), Victor Hunt designArt Dealers (Belgium), Art Factum (Lebanon) and Gallery S. Bensimon (France) and newcomers J.C.T Haute Couture Interiors (France), Camp Design Gallery (Italy), Barcelona Design Gallery (Spain) and Dutch Creative Industry (The Netherlands). Exhibitors from a total of 19 countries.

“For the upcoming edition, we keep the diversity of the design creations as one of our main features. Reflecting Dubai’s unique position as a global meeting point, Design Days Dubai showcases design from around the world, in addition to design from the region. We have a unique format which positions young emerging galleries alongside the renowned, providing a first-time opportunity to exhibit at an international level; and for design enthusiasts, the opportunity to meet designers from all over the world and acquire collectible design not seen anywhere else.” said Cyril Zammit, Director of Design Days Dubai. 

For its fifth installment, the fair continues to promote the Middle Eastern design industry through exhibiting a record number of design galleries and studios based in the Emirates, GCC and wider MENASA region. These include the first participation of Monogram and M.A.D Gallery (both Dubai), Samovar and Loulwa Al-Radwan (both Kuwait), Vick Vanlian and Georges Amatoury Studio (both Lebanon), Kalo (UAE) and Aisha Al-Sowaidi (Qatar).

As a notable symbol of the growth and maturity of the design landscape in the UAE and beyond, additional strong regional representation can be seen through the number of returning exhibitors: 1971 Design Space, Aljoud Lootah, Cities, Fatima bint Mohamed bin Zayed Initiative, Fadi Sarriedine, Nakkash Gallery, Shamsa Alabbar and Tashkeel, all based in the Emirates, along with Coalesce (Pakistan), Naqsh Collective (Jordan) and Squad Design (Lebanon).

• Other highlights of the 2016 programme will include an exhibition of design from the UAE, ‘WASL, art and design organisaton Tashkeel (the third season of Tashkeel’s successful design programme), Dubai Culture and d3 (Urban Commissions competition) focus on a brand new generation of UAE-based designers.

Design Days Dubai is owned and managed by Art Dubai Group and is held under Art Week, an umbrella initiative bringing together the UAE’s arts and culture-centred happenings in the month of March with the aim of promoting the cultural activities of the region to both residents and visitors.

The exhibitors participating in Design Days Dubai 2016 includes (r = returning)

• 1971 Design Space, Sharjah –
• Aisha Al-Sowaidi, Doha – new
• Aljoud Lootah Dubai – r
• ArtFactum Gallery, Beirut – r
• Barcelona Design Gallery, Barcelona – new
• Binome, France – r
• Camp Design Gallery, Milan – new
• Carpenters Workshop Gallery, London/Paris/New York – r
• Cities, Dubai – r
• Coalesce, Karachi –r
• Coletivo Amor de Madre, Sao Paulo –r
• Crafts Council (UK), London – rDesign Terminal – HybridArt Budapest
• Dutch Creative Industry, The Netherlands – new
• Fadi Sarriedine, Dubai – r
• FBMI, Dubai – r
• Gallery S. Bensimon, Paris – r
• Georges Amatoury Studio, Beirut – new
• Iwan Maktabi, Dubai/Beirut – r
• JCT Paris, Paris – new
• Kalo, Sharjah – new
• King Abdulaziz Centre for Culture Dammam – new
• Loulwa Al-Radwan, Kuwait – new
• MAD Gallery, Dubai/Geneva/Taipei – new
• Monogram, Dubai – new
• Nakkash Gallery, Dubai –
• Naqsh Collective, Amman – r
• Samovar, Kuwait – new
• Shamsa Alabbar, Dubai – r
• Squad Design, Beirut – r
• Tashkeel, Dubai – r
• VCUQatar, Doha – r
• Vick Vanlian, Beirut – new
• Victor Hunt designArt Dealers, Brussels – r
• Wiener Silber Manufactur, Vienna – r

For more information about Design Days Dubai, and each participating gallery, please visit the bi-lingual website, www.designdaysdubai.ae. Supporters can also keep up to date with the fair on the following social media channels: Facebook Instagram Twitter

ENDS

Note to Editors

About Design Days Dubai

Now in its fifth edition, Design Days Dubai is the first design fair of its kind in the Middle East, bringing the most exclusive selection of purchasable, limited-edition design to the region. A showcase of desirable, rare and unique design creations, Design Days Dubai will be held from March 14-18, 2016, to coincide with Art Week, the city’s premier art event. Design Days Dubai will again be located at its dedicated premises; The Venue, Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai.

To download images of the works at Design Days Dubai 2016, please follow:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ngbilqz70prqebk/AAB_SRMZKHi6eYG0wMbBptYka?dl=0

For more information, images and interview requests for Design Days Dubai, please contact:
Ciara Phillips

[email protected]

tel +971 (0)55 650 7431

For regional relations, please contact:

Rima Taha or Dana Sleiman

Asda’a Burson Marsteller

[email protected]

tel +971 4 450 7600

DESIGN DAYS DUBAI IS PRESENTED WITH THE FOLLOWING PARTNERS:

Dubai Culture & Arts Authority

The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) was launched on March 8, 2008 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Dubai Culture plays a critical part in achieving the vision of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2021 of establishing the city as vibrant, global Arabian metropolis that shapes culture and arts in the region and the world.

The organisation has announced several initiatives that strengthen the historic and modern cultural fabric of Dubai. These include: The Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Patrons of the Arts Awards: The first of its kind initiative in the Arab world honouring individuals and organisations who have made financial or in kind contributions through sustained support to visual arts, performing arts, literature and film in the region; Creatopia (www.creatopia.ae), the nation’s first government empowered virtual community that guides and nurtures the creative culture of the nation, by providing a platform of information and opportunities leading to exposure and personal growth; Dubai Art Season: The city’s premier umbrella arts initiative which encompasses of Art Week (Art Dubai, Design Days Dubai, and SIKKA Art Fair); and Middle East Film & Comic Con, among others, to highlight the Emirate’s growing creative landscape within the international circuit; SIKKA Art Fair: An annual art fair aimed at promoting Emirati and local artists in the UAE; and Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre: An annual festival that celebrates and fosters the art of theatre in the UAE. www.dubaiculture.gov.ae

Van Cleef & Arpels
Founded in 1906 in Paris’ Place Vendôme, Van Cleef & Arpels came into being following Alfred Van Cleef’s marriage to Estelle Arpels in 1895. Always striving for excellence, the Maison has become a worldwide reference through its unique designs, its choice of exceptional stones and its virtuoso craftsmanship, offering jewels and timepieces that tell stories and bring enchantment to life.

Over the years, the Maison has remained faithful to this highly distinctive style characterized by creativity, refinement and poetry. Whether inspired by nature, couture or works of the imagination, its collections evoke a timeless world of beauty and harmony.www.vancleefarpels.com

Emaar Properties PJSC
Emaar Properties PJSC, listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is a global property developer and provider of premium lifestyles, with a significant presence in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. One of the world’s largest real estate companies, Emaar has total assets valued at over US$ 42 billion and a land bank of approximately 195 million sq m in Dubai and key international markets.

With a proven track-record in delivery, Emaar has handed over 39,800 residential units in Dubai and other global markets since 2001. Emaar has over 690,000 sq m of recurring revenue generating assets, and 13 hotels and resorts, with 1,950 rooms. Today, around 60 per cent of the company’s revenues are from its shopping malls & retail, hospitality & leisure and international subsidiaries.  Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination, are among Emaar’s trophy developments. www.emaar.com

Audi
The Audi Group, with its brands Audi, Ducati and Lamborghini, is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the premium segment. The company is present in more than 100 markets worldwide and produces at 16 locations in twelve countries. In the second half of 2016, Audi will start production of the Q5 in San José Chiapa (Mexico). 100-percent subsidiaries of AUDI AG include quattro GmbH (Neckarsulm), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy) and Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (Bologna, Italy).

In 2014, the latest full financial year, the Audi Group delivered to customers approximately 1.74 million automobiles of the Audi brand, 2,530 sports cars of the Lamborghini brand and approximately 45,000 motorcycles of the Ducati brand. AUDI AG achieved total revenue of €53.8 billion and an operating profit of €5.15 billion in 2014. At present, more than 80,000 people work for the company all over the world, 58,000 of them in Germany. Audi focuses on new products and sustainable technologies for the future of mobility.

AUDI AG’s commitment to the region was confirmed through the foundation of its fully owned subsidiary in 2005. The current Middle East model range comprises the Audi A1, A3 and S3 Sedan, A4 and RS 4 Avant, the A5 Coupe, Sportback, Cabriolet and RS 5, the A6, S6 & RS 6 Avant, A7, S7 & RS 7, A8 L & S8, the Audi Q3, Q5 and Q7, the Audi TT Coupe/Roadster and TT RS Coupe, the Audi R8 Coupe and R8 Spyder as well as R8 V10 plus. www.audi.com

Art Week
With the aim of promoting the cultural activities of the region to both residents and visitors, Art Week is an umbrella initiative bringing together the UAE’s arts and culture-centred happenings in the month of March. From fairs Art Dubai, Design Days Dubai and SIKKA to exhibitions at Alserkal Avenue and pop-up museums around the country, Art Week involves cultural programmes from across the UAE, highlighting galleries, institutions and artists. As a focal point of the region’s cultural calendar, Art Week attracts many tourists and residents, thus helping to sustain and develop the region’s arts industry by actively building audiences and patrons. Art Week also provides educational opportunities for young Emiratis and locally-based graduates—building expertise for the future.