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The Dubai Design District is a Free Zone business park under development in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The site is is intended to serve the design and fashion industry and will house office space, design studios, boutique hotels, high-end apartments and a waterfront promenade.[1] It is located close to Mohammed Bin Rashid City and adjacent to Dubai’s Business Bay development.[2]

History and Profile

Dubai Design District (d3) is a member of Dubai Holding subsidiary TECOM Business Parks and is financed by TECOM Investments. It is the newest of nine business parks operated by TECOM Investments in Dubai. The Free Zone was established in 2013 through a decree by the ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The site currently has 10 buildings under construction in the first phase of a multi-year development plan. The development aims to be the Middle East’s central destination for the design, fashion and luxury industries.

The first phase of construction on the 18-million-square-foot site will cost around $1 billion and be ready by 2015. Once complete, d3 will be a purpose built environment catering to the full value chain of the design, fashion and luxury industry, with facilities including: convention center; design institute; workshop space; offices; retail space; residential land and hotel land for development.[5]

Economic Conditions

Dubai Design District will build on the Emirate's robust tourism and luxury markets. Economic conditions for the development appear favorable: the GCC Luxury, Fashion and Interiors market is expected to top AED 54 Billion (USD 14.7 Billion) in 2014, with the UAE to account for AED 23 Billion (USD 6.26 Billion) of the market. Retail spend in the Emirate is expected to surpass AED 151 Billion (USD 41 Billion).