Dubai Design District
- ‘ Welcome to Dubai's cultural centre. A come-as-you-are creative space where industry experts and local entrepreneurs connect, create and collaborate. With cosy cafs, incredible eateries and unbeatable art galleries, this space has fast become a hub for local design, fashion, architecture and art. Home to the world's leading luxury brands, design companies and creatives, d3 is proud to host iconic events like Dubai Design Week, Dubai Fashion Week and Sole DXB. You'll also find plenty of intimate industry talks, workshops and educational programmes for people of all ages and abilities. d3 is proud to be the lifestyle and business district that challenges people to rethink the regular. ’
The Dubai Design District (d3) embodies the government's vision to transform Dubai into an innovation-led economy and aims to both encourage local talent and provide a platform to showcase it to a larger, global audience.
The project is being developed by the Tecom Group and consists of a variety of commercial, retail and hospitality elements.
Office Space
Dubai Design District has office space and showrooms specially designed to meet the needs of designers. A new business community is flourishing with a mix of global brand headquarters rubbing shoulders with studios and workshops for local enterprises.
Residential Space
There are no residential properties yet.
Transport & Access
From Dubai Design District it takes roughly 8 minutes to drive to Dubai Mall, 20 minutes to Palm Jumeirah, 19 minutes to Burj Al Arab and 24 minutes to The Walk JBR.*
Dubai International Airport (DXB) is roughly 16 minutes' drive and the new Al Maktoum International Airport is roughly 44 minutes' drive.*
d3 can be accessed from Sheikh Zayed Road, the E44 Al Khail Road, or the E66 El Ain Road from Bur Dubai.
The Dubai Road and Transport Authority (RTA) operates a bus route from the Dubai Mall Metro Station to d3 with route designation d3.
Properties on the Market
Sub-communities
There are four sub-communities in Dubai Design District. Learn more in the following guides.
Amenities
Hotels and Restaurants
There are no hotels in d3 yet but there are plans to build boutique hotels along the waterfront promenade that will be able to cater for tourists as well as meetings and events. A variety of bars and restaurants are already open to provide places for people to meet and socialise.
Retail
There are a number of clothes shops, jewellery stores and galleries for artisans to sell their work to the public.
Events
Five indoor events spaces include Atrium 4, Atrium 5, Atrium 6, Atrium 7 and M Floor. For outdoor events there are six spaces: DQ Core, DQ Stairs, DQ North, DQ South, Events Square and Hai d3.
Dubai Design District Location
d3 can be accessed from Sheikh Zayed Road, the E44 Al Khail Road, or the E66 El Ain Road from Bur Dubai.
The map below shows the location of Dubai Design District and just below are summaries of the nearest attractions, parks, beaches, golf clubs and cinemas.
Local Schools
Dubai Design District has many schools nearby including Hartland International School at 1.3 km and North London Collegiate School Dubai at 1.4 km.
In terms of performance there are three schools nearby that have achieved either of two highest government inspection rating of 'Very Good' or 'Outstanding' including Horizon English School Dubai which has a rating of 'Outstanding' and Hartland International School which has a rating of 'Very good'.
Things to Do
We've partnered with LadiesNightDubai.com and BrunchCrunch.ae to give an overview of the current Ladies Nights and Brunch offers in the vicinity of Dubai Design District.
Nearby neighbourhoods
Explore communities that are either adjacent or close to Dubai Design District.
Masterplan
A look at the original masterplan published by the developer at the time of the launch of Dubai Design District.
Woods Bagot’s urban design team worked closely with the client on the masterplan right from the project’s initial stages, and were allowed relative creative freedom to propose a plan that highlights the purpose and global image of the development.
The masterplan includes a design institute, art and design museum, convention centre, design studios and a two kilometre waterfront promenade. The buildings and the public spaces were designed at the same time so that the scheme benefits from a continuous design language.
"The spatial morphology of the artificial landscape formation, combined with a bold circular axis, produces a clear, legible pattern defined by a ‘draped fabric’ concept which forms a cutting plane for the rooftops. The masterplan capitalised on the creek-side location, utilising a wetland landscape typology to tie the artificial topography in place."
Construction History
The development of the district is happening in three phases. The first consists of eleven core buildings providing 1.2m sq ft of offices, studios, ateliers and showrooms, and over 200,000 sq ft of retail space. Phase 1 was completed in 2015
Phase 2 will sit alongside the newly developed core buildings and act as a thriving cultural epicentre at d3, inspiring emerging designers and artists, and attracting visitors to the area.
The design, by Foster + Partners, includes flexible offices, co-working communal facilities, outdoor display venues and pedestrianised spaces. It will offer space for designers to execute light works, as well as a gallery and retail space. Construction started in October 2016 and was expected to be completed by 2019. When complete, Phase 2 will add another 6,000 people to the community. In June 2017 Foster + Partners opened a new office in the Dubai Design District to serve as a base for projects in the Emirate, however, in February 2019 Phase 2 was put on hold.
The third phase of the development will include a Creek-side esplanade with international and boutique hotels, a pop-up shop area, amphitheatre and a convention centre. Phase 3 is due for completion in 2021.
10,000 people were expected to be working in d3 by the end of 2016. By October of that year 160 companies were operating here, 40 per cent of them being local firms and 60 per cent international.
A Coca-Cola innovation lab and an IBM design studio are just two of the high-profile global companies that are partnering with the design district.
See the development of Dubai Design District in photos:
Dubai Design District in the News
Dubai Design District Buildings
We currently maintain records for 21 building developments in Dubai Design District.
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