In brief
Meraas’ Creative Living Space, built with Duette Studio, translated the five key areas of the Dubai Design District into a multisensory installation and hosted talks, workshops and music sessions. It brought together partners such as SOM, Woods Bagot and U+A to discuss the creative economy. The installation was part of the 12th Dubai Design Week, which attracted designers from over 50 countries and highlighted design’s role in Dubai’s future and economy.
On its opening day at Dubai Design District, Meraas unveiled the Meraas Creative Living Space at Dubai Design Week 2026, a sensory installation that interprets the Dubai Design District (d3) masterplan and showcases five envisioned areas from The Creekside to The Mindspace. The exhibit ran from 4th to 8th November, offering visitors an immersive glimpse of d3’s future residential and public life.
Conceived with Duette Studio, the space opens with five zones – The Creekside, Design HQ, SOHO, The Sanctuary and The Mindspace – that invite visitors to explore how homes, public spaces and cultural experiences may coexist in d3. The programme included design talks, workshops, music sessions and art activations that probe the creative economy and the district’s evolution.
Partnerships with architecture and design leaders such as Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Woods Bagot and U+A framed a range of conversations on creative design processes and the role of design in shaping everyday life. The SOHO zone hosted nightly listening sessions featuring Ben Palace, DJ Liutik and Karrouhat, while daytime workshops examined how design links people and places.
Dubai Design Week, the 12th edition of the annual event, opened the same day and ran until 8th November under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The festival showcased more than 40 projects from designers across 50 countries, with exhibitions, installations, interactive experiences, talks and workshops focused on sustainability, technology and human connection.
Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President of Dubai Design District, said: "design plays a central role in shaping how people live and interact with their surroundings."
"design plays a central role in shaping how people live and interact with their surroundings."
Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi, CEO of the Arts, Design and Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, added: "design is a key contributor to Dubai’s creative economy by connecting creative ideas and skills with production capabilities and commercial opportunities."
"design is a key contributor to Dubai’s creative economy by connecting creative ideas and skills with production capabilities and commercial opportunities."
Natasha Carella, Director of Dubai Design Week, highlighted: "this year’s programme explores the relationship between design and human connection, alongside experimentation with materials, traditional crafts and emerging technologies."
"this year’s programme explores the relationship between design and human connection, alongside experimentation with materials, traditional crafts and emerging technologies."
