• Two UAE-based designers will join Dubai Culture to gain insights into the worldwide design sector and bring home new ideas to develop Dubai’s own design scene
• The Authority’s participation is aligned with the Dubai Plan 2021 to make Dubai a city of happy, creative and empowered people

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 01 April 2017:  Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated entity for culture, arts and heritage, has announced that it will be attending Milan Design Week 2017 – the world-leading design industry event that will take place from 4th to 9th April and stage a wide range of exhibitions under its umbrella, including the acclaimed Salone Internazionale del Mobile and Fuorisalone. The Authority will be using the event to gain insights into the worldwide design sector and generate new ideas for developing Dubai’s own thriving design scene, with the support of two UAE-based designers for the first time this year. 

Latifa bin Demaithan, Chief of Happiness & Positivity and Office Manager of the Vice Chairman at Dubai Culture, commented: “Dubai Culture’s participation at Milan Design Week is aligned with the Dubai Plan 2021 to establish this city as a home to happy, creative and empowered people. Our design sector is witnessing fantastic growth and innovation, and in Milan we will be supporting and sustaining this progress by promoting intercultural exchange, gaining fresh insights, and bringing our findings home to contribute to Dubai’s thriving design scene. Continuing our efforts to nurture local talent, two UAE-based designers will also be joining us on the trip for the first time this year.”

The two designers – Aljoud Lootah and Talin Hazbar– have been selected by Dubai Culture for their commitment to serving as loyal ambassadors to Dubai’s design sector in Milan, and for their outstanding talent and achievements. Aljoud Lootah is the first Emirati designer to have works appears in the national collection of a museum (National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne), while Talin Hazbar is one of four designers to have been commissioned by the Louvre Abu Dhabi to create a piece for its inaugural show. The designers will have the opportunity to see what their peers are presenting, discover the world’s most vivid design market, and be inspired to generate new ideas for strengthening Dubai’s design sector. 

Latifa bin Demaithan added: “We are delighted to be bringing the two designers to Milan, which fulfils Dubai Culture’s mandate of celebrating and nurturing local talent by providing an international platform were they can showcase their creative flair, gather with the wider design community, and acquire a better understanding of worldwide design standards. Dubai Culture will also be engaging with international design industry experts throughout Milan Design Week, to create conversations, exchange views on the design sector, build new relationships, and spark potential collaborations.”

The presence of Dubai Culture at ‘Milan Design Week 2017’ is part of the Authority’s mission to help strengthen Dubai’s presence as a dynamic force in the world’s arts and cultural landscape. This is one of a number of Dubai Culture initiatives that focus on establishing the Emirate as a global centre for creativity and enhancing the city's cultural identity in order to drive the creative economy. The Authority also works to strengthen and promote the diverse cultural and creative fabric of Dubai, to support and empower a new creative generation while preserving Emirati heritage.