Dubai and Milan join forces through design: a strategic collaboration that strengthens cultural and professional ties between two global creative capitals
Dubai continues to build relations and connections with Milan in its ongoing journey to strengthen its position as a global hub for design and creativity. On the occasion of the 2025 edition of Milano Design Week, a prestigious new partnership was announced between Dubai Design District (d3) – the UAE’s leading hub dedicated to design, innovation, and the creative industries – and two iconic institutions at the heart of Milan’s design identity: Fuorisalone.it and Brera Design District, both curated and developed by Studiolabo.
Strategically, the partnership is designed to foster cultural and professional exchange between the two cities, with the aim of promoting joint initiatives, encouraging the sharing of values and expertise, and creating new opportunities for professionals in the sector. The alliance represents an important step forward in the internationalisation of Italian design and the ongoing expansion of Dubai’s creative economy.
“Fuorisalone.it and Brera Design District are the lifeblood of Milan’s vibrant design scene,” said Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President of Dubai Design District (d3), part of TECOM Group. “This partnership reflects our deep commitment to cultural exchange and positions d3 as a global platform for creativity and collaboration. We are honoured to join forces with such esteemed partners and look forward to developing new projects, events, and shared opportunities together.”
The theme chosen by Fuorisalone for its 2025 edition, “Mondi Connessi” (Connected Worlds), perfectly captures the spirit of the partnership. It highlights the desire to create dialogue between diverse creative perspectives, knowledge systems, and cultural expressions – embracing diversity as a powerful engine for innovation. The first expression of this collaboration came earlier this year, when Khadija Al Bastaki joined the jury for the fourth edition of the Fuorisalone Award, a distinguished recognition that honours the most outstanding expressions of creativity presented during Milano Design Week.
“Our collaboration with d3 represents a valuable opportunity for growth in key strategic markets such as the Middle East,” said Paolo Casati, co-founder and Creative Director of Studiolabo. “Through this alliance, we seek to open new pathways for Italian design, fostering virtuous systems of exchange, education, and development between cultures and creative economies.”
This initiative is fully aligned with the ambitions of the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy, which aims to position Dubai as a global capital for innovation and creativity by 2030, the city’s Design Sector Strategy 2033 and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. The partnership offers Italian design companies privileged access to the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, while reinforcing Dubai’s role as a dynamic crossroads of cultures, aesthetics, and ideas.
In this context, Dubai Design District (d3), which is part of TECOM Group PJSC, emerges as a key gateway for designers, brands, and creatives seeking to enter or expand within one of the world’s most promising and fast-evolving creative markets – one rich in inspiration, opportunity, and international exchange.
Tag: Milan Design Fuorisalone 2025 Milano Design Week Dubai Design District
© Fuorisalone.it — All rights reserved. — Published on 17 April 2025
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