Dubai Design Week Celebrates a New Generation of Designers
Dubai’s Creek has long served as a vital link for trade between East and West. Today, it remains a dynamic center for the exchange of ideas and culture during Dubai Design Week, which runs until November 9th. The event unites global creativity and local heritage, shaping the city’s evolving identity.
In a metropolis known for its futuristic skyline, the festival invites reflection on how Dubai reconnects with its historical roots. At the Design District, an installation of palm fronds forming a courtyard atop concrete blocks showcases this balance. The structure’s corrugated metal roof allows light and air to flow freely, embodying simplicity and openness.
The Winning Proposal: “When Does a Threshold Become a Courtyard?”
The 2025 Urban Commissions theme, Courtyard, was brought to life by the UAE-based design and research studio Some Kind of Practice, founded by Omar Darwish and co-led with Abdulla Abbas.
“Our fieldwork focused on places that have so far remained untouched by development—mountains, coasts, and desert regions,” said Omar Darwish.
“We wanted to recreate the regionally important courtyard space using accessible natural materials, combined with traditional stacking techniques inspired by what we observed in the desert,” added Abdulla Abbas.
The design demonstrates how contemporary architecture in Dubai can draw on natural elements and traditional practices while adapting to modern life. Even the native Ghaf tree, protected by law for its ecological value, symbolizes endurance and rootedness, qualities essential to the desert city’s story.
Author’s Summary
Dubai Design Week reconnects modern creativity with Emirati heritage, highlighting sustainable design rooted in nature, culture, and tradition.