In brief
At Dubai Design Week 2026, Meraas created a sensory experience – the Creative Living Space – that visualizes five proposed areas of the Dubai Design District in collaboration with Duette Studio and major architectural firms. The show ran from 4th to 8th November with workshops, music sessions and talks that explored design’s role in shaping everyday life. In contrast, the week’s overarching program, highlighted by a second WAM article, gathered designers from more than 50 countries to present 40 projects and emphasize sustainability, technology and human connection across installations and exhibitions.
Dubai real‑estate developer Meraas, a member of Dubai Holding Real Estate, announced the unveiling of a sensory installation at Dubai Design Week 2026 that interprets the future masterplan of the Dubai Design District (d3). The Meraas Creative Living Space, created in partnership with Duette Studio, opened on 4 November and remained on display until 8 November, offering visitors a physical representation of d3’s planned five areas: The Creekside, Design HQ, SOHO, The Sanctuary and The Mindspace.
The installation integrates design, culture and music, hosting daily listening sessions in the SOHO element with performers such as Ben Palace, DJ Liutik and Karrouhat. According to WAM, the programme also includes workshops, talks and music sessions that examine how design can shape public, residential and cultural life, and how such efforts contribute to Dubai’s creative economy.
Key architectural collaborators for the space include SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill), Woods Bagot and U+A, along with speakers drawn from Dubai’s architectural and creative community. WAM notes that the event is positioned as the Creative Living Partner of Dubai Design Week 2026, underscoring Meraas’ goal of creating distinctive destinations that merge built environments with social experiences.
By contrast, a second WAM article reports on the broader scope of Dubai Design Week 2026, emphasising the participation of designers from more than 50 countries presenting over 40 projects that blend cultural heritage with contemporary practice. The week ran from 4 to 8 November and ran in partnership with Dubai Design District, TECOM Group and Dubai Culture.
The broader programme highlighted exhibitions, installations, talks and workshops that explored sustainability, technology and human connection. WAM quoted Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President of Dubai Design District, stating that “design plays a central role in shaping how people live and interact with their surroundings,” and highlighted the district’s commitment to fostering a global design hub aligned with the Design Sector Strategy 2033.
Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi, CEO of the Arts, Design and Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, described design as a key contributor to the creative economy, linking ideas, production capabilities and commercial opportunities. She added that Dubai Culture’s support for Dubai Design Week and the UAE Designer Exhibition enables local creatives to showcase work, exchange expertise and build industry relationships.
Natasha Carella, Director of Dubai Design Week, noted that this year’s programme “explores the relationship between design and human connection,” and mentioned the new format for Abwab, now titled “In Other Words,” presenting five newly commissioned works in a shared indoor exhibition.
While the Meraas Creative Living Space offered a tangible sensory exploration of d3’s masterplan, focusing on the interaction of homes, public spaces and cultural experiences, the wider design week’s narrative positioned itself as a global gathering that emphasizes cross‑national collaboration, sustainability initiatives and the expansion of Dubai’s creative ecosystem.
Both accounts, from the same WAM outlet, therefore present complementary frames: one foregrounds a singular corporate installation that brings the district’s vision into lived experience; the other underscores the collective international effort and thematic breadth that characterises Dubai Design Week 2026.
