Open for business: Downtown Design
12 finds from old + new friends at DXBDW's commercial trade fair.
Downtown Design has officially opened its doors in d3! We’re celebrating the official launch by taking a quick spin through 12 brands returning and debuting at the region’s largest commercial design fair. With over 175 exhibitors – from faucets, to kitchens, to lighting and furnishings -there’s something for everyone.
Latest works and collections will be brought to the fair by brands exhibiting for the first time; AlShaya Enterprises, Arper by Jalapeno Trading, Artemide, Baxter, Cappelini, Cassina, Diesel Living, Frato, Gandia Blasco, Leyla Uluhanli, Manfredi Style, Normann Copenhagen, Puiforcat, and Villeroy + Boch.
Key returning brands including Bernhardt, Bomma, cc-tapis, Herman Miller, Marset, Matteo Brioni, Meridiani, Moroso, and THG Paris will return to present their new ranges at the fair’s biggest showcase to date.
For more about their new Downtown Editions, take a look at our interview with Fair Director, Rue Kothari.
And stay tuned to id for more coverage of its special brand launches, installations, and talks throughout the week!
The Latest
Wave: The New Mediterranean Haven in Dubai
IDST’s design invites exploration with a thoughtful blend of artisanal craftsmanship and contemporary style.
The Chedi Wadi Safar
Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and KCA International are collaborating to launch this new hotel
A New Era of Early Learning
Roar crafts the PIF Daycare Centre in Riyadh with a calming, sensory-rich environment where design, nature and childhood development come together.
When Art Meets Light
Brush and Switch by Sans Souci bend light in unexpected ways
The Importance of Community-Driven Design
We speak to Joanna Varettas, Senior Associate Designer at TGP International on the story of Seed & Bloom – a café designed to nurture connection and community engagement
Finasi x ROAR presents – Made in UAE
For this year's Downtown Design, Finasi and Pallavi Dean will unveil a bold new installation that speaks the language of material honesty, exceptional craftsmanship, visionary design, and local identity.
A Lesson in Restraint
This Palm Jumeirah home proves that luxury can be achieved with intention, rather than scale
In photos: 2025 identity Design Awards shortlist reveal at Casamia
Here are snippets from the evening.
Vote for your favourite projects at the identity Design Awards 2025
You can now choose your favourite project from the identity Design Awards 2025 shortlist
identity Design Awards 2025 shortlist: Interior Design
The shortlist is revealed for the interior design categories
What to Expect at Downtown Design
The Middle East’s leading platform for high-quality contemporary design will showcase a curated mix of international and regional brands, alongside independent designers and studios
A New Chapter of Wellness
Studio Marco Piva has designed the Eden Spa at Excelsior Palace in Rapallo, where architecture, landscape and luxury converge