Dubai Design and Fashion Council announces the findings of the MENA Design Outlook study

• The market value of the MENA design industry surpassed USD 100bn in 2014
• UAE and Saudi Arabia are by far the largest overall design markets in the region, respectively totaling USD 27.6bn and USD 21.9bn in design revenues in 2014

Dubai, October 27, 2015: Dubai Design and Fashion Council (DDFC) revealed the results of the MENA Design Outlook, a ground-breaking study across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region which highlighted the impact of the design sector on economic growth and its role in driving innovation. In the presence of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, the study findings were announced during the third DDFC Urban Majlis on the first day of Dubai Design Week. Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Amina Al Rustamani, Chairperson of DDFC, was joined by notable industry leaders including Nez Gebreel, CEO of DDFC; Mohammad Saeed Al-Shehhi, COO, d3; and Emmanuel Durou – Partner - Monitor Deloitte; who discussed the impact of the findings on the region’s design industry.

The MENA Design Outlook was commissioned to capture the design landscape across the MENA region with a focus on five major countries which are key contributors to the region’s design sector - UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and Lebanon. The research findings demonstrated the vast potential, depth and progressive growth rate of the MENA design industry.

The market value of the design industry in the MENA region surpassed USD 100bn in 2014 and is expected to continue expanding at an average growth rate of 6 percent, twice the pace of the global design sector, and by 2019, its contribution to the global design sector will reach 5.2 percent. The study also found that the UAE and Saudi Arabia are by far the largest overall design markets in the region, respectively totaling USD 27.6bn and USD 21.9bn in design revenues in 2014, followed by Qatar and Egypt.

"Our wise leadership is committed to providing new prospects of development and progress in order to drive innovations that will unleash the potential of our youth and reinforce the UAE’s goal to occupy leading ranks regionally and internationally. Undoubtedly, the UAE plays a vital and leading role and is committed to supporting other countries in the region and contribute, in various ways, to its development and prosperity. We at the Dubai Design and Fashion Council are constantly striving to provide the necessary platforms to develop the design sector and foster up and coming talent in Dubai and the region,” said Dr. Amina Al Rustamani.

Commenting on the findings of the study, Dr. Amina Al Rustamani added “As the Government amplifies its efforts to transition towards a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation, we recognize the need to accurately capture the depth of the design sector and develop adequate benchmarking. The MENA Design Outlook provides us with a snapshot of the current status of the market and identifies key challenges and opportunities. The insights from this report will enable us to shape the way forward in making Dubai the emerging design capital of the world.”

Nez Gebreel, CEO of DDFC said, “As a prominent voice within the design community with a region-wide perspective, we need to set the tone, drive conversation and use our influence to create opportunities with key stakeholders in Dubai and across the region. The MENA Design Outlook is an important resource to help us understand the gaps in the market and introduce strategic initiatives to support the growth of the design sector, and we are proud to be at the forefront of initiating positive change.” 

Mohammad Saeed Al-Shehhi, COO, d3, also commented, “d3 was established to stimulate collaboration and innovation by providing a dedicated home for the thriving design community in the Emirate. The MENA Design Outlook complements d3’s vision to catalyse the growth of the design industry and provide designers with insights which will help them flourish”.

“The MENA Design Outlook report will build a bridge between global markets and opportunities in the regional design segments” said Emmanuel Durou, Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) Partner at Monitor Deloitte in the Middle East. “This first-of-its-kind report in the region sets the landscape of the design market in MENA and will be a foundation on which to build. It clearly demonstrates the significant economic contribution of the design and creative industries in MENA but still identifies some short and long term opportunities around awareness, regulation and incubation to fully develop the potential of these segments.”

As the custodian of design in the region, DDFC commissions research studies and shares knowledge with the design community to nurture an environment in which creative businesses will flourish.