DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, JANUARY 20, 2016 – Design Days Dubai, the Middle East and South Asia’s only collectible design fair, returns to The Venue in Downtown Dubai for its fifth edition with an exciting roster of new and returning exhibitors. Design Days Dubai presents limited edition modern and contemporary design pieces from the world’s established and emerging galleries and design talent, alongside a public programme of special projects, talks, workshops and guided tours allowing visitors to discover, engage with and acquire the works on display. The fair has the continued generous support of returning sponsors since its 2012 launch edition, including the strategic partnership with Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, the Emirate’s dedicate Authority for culture, arts and heritage; French high-jewellery Maison Van Cleef & Arpels, Audi and Emaar.

Retaining its position as the world’s most diverse design fair, Design Days Dubai brings together world-leading design galleries welcoming annual returning galleries Carpenters Workshop Gallery (UK/France/USA), Victor Hunt designArt Dealers (Belgium), Art Factum (Lebanon) and Gallery S. Bensimon (France) and newcomers J.C.T Haute Couture Interiors (France), Camp Design Gallery (Italy), Barcelona Design Gallery (Spain) and Dutch Creative Industry (The Netherlands). Exhibitors from a total of 19 countries.

“For the upcoming edition, we keep the diversity of the design creations as one of our main features. Reflecting Dubai’s unique position as a global meeting point, Design Days Dubai showcases design from around the world, in addition to design from the region. We have a unique format which positions young emerging galleries alongside the renowned, providing a first-time opportunity to exhibit at an international level; and for design enthusiasts, the  opportunity to meet designers from all over the world and acquire collectible design not seen anywhere else.” said Cyril Zammit, Director of Design Days Dubai.

For its fifth installment, the fair continues to promote the Middle Eastern design industry through exhibiting a record number of design galleries and studios based in the Emirates, GCC and wider MENASA region. These include the first participation of Monogram and M.A.D Gallery (both Dubai), Samovar and Loulwa Al-Radwan (both Kuwait), Vick Vanlian and Georges Amatoury Studio (both Lebanon), Kalo (UAE) and Aisha Al-Sowaidi (Qatar). As a notable symbol of the growth and maturity of the design landscape in the UAE and beyond, additional strong regional representation can be seen through the number of returning exhibitors: 1971 Design Space, Aljoud Lootah, Cities, Fatima bint Mohamed bin Zayed Initiative, Fadi Sarriedine, Nakkash Gallery, Shamsa Alabbar and Tashkeel, all based in the Emirates, along with Coalesce (Pakistan), Naqsh Collective (Jordan) and Squad Design (Lebanon).

Other highlights of the 2016 programme will include an exhibition of design from the UAE, ‘WASL, celebrating Design Days Dubai’s 5-year legacy and commitment to supporting and nurturing local and regional design talent; whilst initiatives in partnership with Van Cleef & Arpels (the fourth edition of Van Cleef & Arpel’s Middle East Emergent Designer Prize), art and design organisaton Tashkeel (the third season of Tashkeel’s successful design programme), Dubai Culture and d3 (Urban Commissions competition) focus on a brand new generation of UAE- based designers. Design Days Dubai is owned and managed by Art Dubai Group and is held under Art Week, an umbrella initiative bringing together the UAE’s arts and culture-centred happenings in the month of March with the aim of promoting the cultural activities of the region to both residents and visitors.