Fifth edition of Market Outside the Box kicks off

Showcasing Dubai’s unique, home-grown retail concepts, the fifth edition of Market Outside the Box (MOTB) starts today at Burj Park in Downtown Dubai. MOTB, a free-to-enter market – started by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) as an initiative to encourage bright, local entrepreneurs, designers and businesses – will run from January 11-20.

The annual MOTB, which has become an integral part of the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), will feature 120 emerging and talented regional designers, showcasing some of the best home-grown and artisanal products from independent retailers across the city.

From fashion to jewellery, there will be a wide selection of beautiful pieces for fashionistas to discover at this year’s MOTB. Like every year, there will be many food trucks, while the health conscious people can browse a range of meal plan companies. Those looking to add a unique touch to their homes can find many one-off soft furnishings and home accessories.

In addition to the exciting line-up of retailers at this year’s MOTB, there will be a flurry of activities such as Pilates classes and an outdoor cinema, as well as entertainment including a mesmerizing magician and hip hop performances and a DJ. Further, there will be bedtime story-reading sessions for kids to enjoy every night.

“With the weather being perfect for an outdoor market, MOTB offers shoppers a different kind of shopping experience. It’s a great platform offering a peep into the home-grown businesses dealing in niche products. Consumers can connect with some bright local entrepreneurs that participate in this pop-up market every year, moving beyond the regular options at the shopping malls. The idea is to have home-grown concepts represented at MOTB that don’t have a physical presence. They either operate online or as home-based businesses,” says Suhaila Saqer Obaid Ghubash, director of events and festivals, DFRE.

Over the years, a measure of the success of MOTB lies in the fact that several of the participating concepts can collaborate with established retailers. Last year, for example, there were a few standouts at MOTB, which managed to get space within the likes of Robinsons and Bloomingdale’s.

MOTB 2018 will be open between 4pm and 10pm on weekdays and 10am to 10pm on weekends.

Look out for the February edition of RetailME to read the full coverage on outdoor markets in the UAE