Dubai Design Week 2024 Highlights
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Dubai Design Week 2024 Highlights

Dubai Design Week 2024, the tenth edition of the Middle East’s largest design festival, took place from November 5-10 in the Dubai Design District (d3). The event showcased over 1,000 acclaimed and emerging designers, brands, and creative leaders from more than 50 countries. Key highlights included Downtown Design, the region’s leading contemporary design fair, which featured innovative installations, exhibitions, and workshops. Notable exhibits included Natascha Maksimovic’s collaboration with Knot Rugs, transforming Japanese ink-marbled wallpapers into rugs, and India-based Oorjaa’s sustainable lamps made from recycled materials. The new Editions fair, dedicated to limited-edition art and design, debuted alongside Downtown Design, hosting over 50 galleries and design studios showcasing photography, ceramics, and contemporary design. The Urban Commissions competition featured Altqadum studio’s ‘Tawila’ installation, inspired by the Gulf’s musical culture, and the Abwab program explored vernacular architecture using local materials. Future Bedouin’s ‘Neo-Majlis’ installation merged traditional Arab architecture with modern AI technology, using translucent pink inflatables to create an immersive community space. The event also included the UAE Designer Exhibition, Monocle’s shop and café takeover, and Art Jameel Shop’s pop-up showcasing regional creatives and artisanal homeware. Workshops, talks, and master classes were open to all disciplines of design, and a marketplace offered handcrafted products on November 9-10[2][3][4].
Posted inBuilding Wealth in UAE

Dubai Future Forum 2024 Outcomes

The Dubai Future Forum 2024, attended by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, brought together over 2,500 participants from 100 countries and more than 150 speakers, including government officials, CEOs, academics, and futurists. The forum highlighted seven transformative developments set to reshape humanity’s future, such as the shift in evaluating growth beyond GDP to include well-being and environmental impact, the dominance of solar energy, a return to the moon, the creation of a genomic bank, brain-computer implants, the rise of alternative education, and AI’s integration into corporate boardrooms. Sheikh Hamdan emphasized Dubai’s role as a global pathbreaker in designing the future and anticipating emerging trends, guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The forum’s outcomes will guide governments, societies, and institutions worldwide in planning their futures, with a focus on building international partnerships and uniting futurists, academics, and researchers with policymakers. Key themes explored during the forum included Foresight Insights, Transforming Humanity, Optimising Health, Empowering Generations, and Futuring Nature, addressing critical challenges and opportunities shaping the world. The event also featured the Dubai Future Solutions – Prototypes for Humanity exhibition, showcasing 100 innovative projects addressing global challenges[1][2][5].
Dubai Financial Experts Program Launched
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Dubai Financial Experts Program Launched

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has launched the Dubai Financial Experts Program, a comprehensive six-part initiative designed to cultivate the next generation of Emirati leaders in the financial services sector. This program, developed in collaboration with the Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development (MBRCLD), aims to enhance the knowledge, skills, and capabilities of UAE nationals aged 25 to 35 with 5 to 10 years of professional experience. The program includes specialized courses on leadership and innovation in financial services, developed in partnership with the University of Oxford and complemented by partnerships in Silicon Valley. Participants will receive advanced training and mentorship from leading experts, gain practical experience through job shadowing at major financial institutions, and undertake a capstone project to deliver tangible impact. The initiative aligns with Dubai’s vision to empower Emirati talents, providing them with top-tier knowledge and experience to drive innovation and strengthen the UAE’s position as a global economic hub, particularly in achieving the targets of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. The program concludes with a graduation ceremony at the Dubai World Trade Centre during the Mohammed bin Rashid Leaders Forum 2025[2][3][4].
The Impact of VAT in the UAE: How to Manage and Reduce Your Taxable Expenses
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The Impact of VAT in the UAE: How to Manage and Reduce Your Taxable Expenses

The UAE introduced a 5% Value Added Tax (VAT) on January 1, 2018, generating over Dh 95.4 billion ($26 billion) in revenue by October 2021. Businesses can recover input VAT on taxable activities, while certain expenses like entertainment are non-recoverable. Compliance involves mandatory registration for businesses exceeding AED 375,000 in annual supplies and meticulous record-keeping. Learn more about VAT categories, allowable expenses, and its impact on businesses and consumers. [3][4][5]
Planning for Children’s Education in the UAE: Investment Strategies for Parents
Posted inBuilding Wealth in UAE

Planning for Children’s Education in the UAE: Investment Strategies for Parents

In the UAE, educating a child from primary school to university can cost up to Dhs 365,025 to Dhs 730,050, with higher education alone estimated at Dhs 250,000 to Dhs 600,000. Despite these hefty costs, 29% of parents have not started saving, highlighting the urgent need for early and strategic education savings plans to ensure financial readiness[1][3][4].