Dubai Design Week today announced that H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, also known as Dubai Culture, will return as patron of the third edition of the Middle East’s largest design event.

Dubai Design Week will take place from the 13th to the 18th of November 2017 in Dubai Design District and across various locations in Dubai. The programme of contemporary design will see the return of the Global Grad Show, Iconic City, ABWAB, and the design trade fair, Downtown Design, alongside a programme of talks and workshops lead by local and international industry experts.

"I am pleased to see the third edition of Dubai Design Week return this November, bringing another original and thought-provoking edition to Dubai," H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said. "The design industry is an integral ingredient in reaching our ambitions for Dubai’s future. The ever evolving and progressive industry has directly shaped the way humanity leads its’ day-to-day life. From developing life changing technologies, to aesthetic appreciation in everyday life, design plays an integral part in building a happy, empowered and creative city. We at Dubai Culture work towards developing an infrastructure that supports this community to grow and flourish."

Her Highness continued, "My vision for Dubai is built upon the belief that progress and innovation are driven by the ideas of its people. It is through engagement at innovative initiatives, such as Dubai Design Week, that help trigger our youth’s imagination and ambition. I look forward to witnessing the impact of this 2017 edition on the next generation of local and regional designers."

Dubai Culture preserves and supports local crafts, and fosters existing and emerging creative talents both locally and abroad. The authority has been a strategic partner of key design moments in the UAE such as Dubai Design Week, Downtown Design, Design Days Dubai, and in 2013 partnered together with Tashkeel on Design Road Professional initiative with 4 Emirati designers which set the foundations for new a generation of designers in the region.

Dubai Culture aims to enhance Dubai’s cultural scene and draw attention to the Emirate’s rich heritage with a variety of initiatives that take place throughout the year. The authority’s mandate is to build bridges of constructive dialogue between different civilisations and cultures through enriching initiatives that benefit the Emirate’s citizens, residents and visitors.