Dubai Design and Fashion Council to come up soon

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, has issued a decree to establish the Dubai Design and Fashion Council. The decree is part of the emirate’s plan to become one of the world’s foremost design and fashion hubs by 2020. The objectives outlined in the decree include fostering SME growth in the fashion and design industry, developing international market appetite for regional and Emirati design products and increasing jobs in the sector. The council will also plan and execute events related to the design and fashion sector. The announcement follows the joint efforts of the Executive Council of Dubai and the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority (DTMFZA) to develop a roadmap for the design and fashion industry.

In this context, Amina Al Rustamani, group CEO of Tecom Investments and representative for the Dubai Design District, who will take up a seat on the council, remarks, “Dubai’s design and fashion industry has a great opportunity to put itself on an equal footing with the likes of London, Paris and New York. However, to unlock the industry’s full potential it will need to be carefully and strategically developed by the people and organisations that have an in-depth understanding about the industry. That is why the decree to create a Dubai Design and Fashion Council, which will guide and nurture the growth of the industry.”

“Dubai already has a growing creative community and we want to harness its full potential. By carving a detailed roadmap, we would be able to maximise the contribution of this community towards achieving Dubai’s strategic ambitions of diversifying the economy, encouraging enterprise and growing the talent pool. Bringing together both the public and private sectors will allow the Dubai Design and Fashion Council to provide focused and dedicated support to the industry. The council will also help in attracting and developing the local talent needed for the industry’s enduring success, while at the same time ensuring it adheres to global standards of best practice,” adds Ahmad Bin Byat, director general of DTMFZA.