His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Saturday announced that a new district will be created in Dubai dedicated to developing the Emirates fashion, design and luxury sectors, a statement from the Government of Dubai Media Office said.
The Dubai Design District will be adjacent to the Business Bay area of Dubai. The district is expected to become a full service commercial hub for design industry-related organisations, brands, and supporting enterprises within the value chain. It will feature a custom-built creative community that will encompass purpose-built commercial and retail facilities for established and emerging designers, design institutes, waterfront promenade, convention centre and event venues and related academic institutions.
Located a short distance from Dubais arterial highways and the Emirates two international airports, the district is in sight of the Creek, Dubais historic trading epicentre, the Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest building, and Dubai Mall, the worlds largest shopping complex. It is expected to be the most connected fashion district in the world, with Dubai being only 8 hours flight time from 90% of the countries in the world.
The district will be operated by TECOM Investments, a member of Dubai Holding, which has an impressive track record in creating, operating and growing successful, industry focused business parks in Dubai.
The new fashion, design, and luxury goods district builds on Dubais strengths in tourism, which is expected to double the number of visitors to 20 million by 2020, and in retail, which is estimated to grow to Dh 151billion in the next two years. These strengths coupled with Dubais strategic location and business-friendly environment, have encouraged major industry players like Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Ralph Lauren to set-up operations in Dubai.
Dubai Design District will be a vital part of the process as the Government looks to deliver against the objectives set out in its Tourism Vision 2020, and it will provide an additional key element in Dubais bid to host Expo 2020.
Over the past decade, Dubai has become an international location of choice for numerous world-class events, such as the Dubai World Cup, Art Dubai, Fashion Forward and Dubai International Film Festival, which all gather renowned personalities from the worlds of art, design and film.
UAE nationals and expatriates alike are showing a keen interest not just in consuming fashion, design, and luxury goods and services, but also in the development of their own design and creative skills, the statement said. One indication of this emergent trend is evidenced by rapid growth in enrolment rates on fashion and design courses at institutions in the UAE. The talents of the UAEs home-grown designers, from those who have already made their mark on the international stage to the stars of tomorrow, will be the vital spark driving this community.
http://www.alrasub.com/mohammed-announces-dubai-design-district/
