Alserkal has announced a multi-year partnership with Design Miami, marking the global fair’s first permanent presence in the Middle East. The new platform will debut in Dubai in early 2027, introducing a flagship exhibition and a year-round programme of commissions, talks and designer-led initiatives across the region.
The collaboration brings together two institutions that have shaped contemporary design discourse over the past two decades. Long established in Miami and Paris as a leading forum for collectable design, the expansion signals Design Miami's strategic entry into a region. For Alserkal, it builds on 15 years of cultivating Dubai’s creative ecosystem, from developing Alserkal Avenue into one of the Gulf’s most active arts districts to supporting experimental practices and cultural production across the MENA region.
“Alserkal’s partnership with the Design Miami brand is of global significance. By triangulating Dubai with Design Miami’s platforms in Miami and Paris, we have created a powerful network driven by our shared values,” says Abdulmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal, founder of Alserkal. He describes the collaboration as a natural extension of Alserkal’s ongoing commitment to building networks of creative exchange across the region.
Design Miami’s leadership echoes this sentiment. Jen Roberts, CEO of Design Miami, highlights the importance of anchoring the platform in Dubai, a city that has become a crossroads for global design. “Together, we can create a meaningful platform that celebrates both the region’s cultural heritage while highlighting its spirit of innovation, a platform to connect the global networks of collectors and designers we have built over the years.”
For Jacqueline “Jesse” Lee, Chair of Design Miami, this move enhances the fair’s global presence and strengthens its ties with local collectors and creative communities. More details about the inaugural edition will be revealed in the coming months. With this partnership, Dubai becomes the next chapter in Design Miami’s international story and a significant milestone in Alserkal’s vision to position the city as a meeting point for design, craftsmanship and contemporary culture.
Visit: alserkal.online
Mariam Khawer is a Dubai-based writer and PR professional whose work spans food, art, and travel across the region. When she isn’t chasing deadlines, she’s likely at a gallery opening, testing out a new restaurant, piecing together one of her mixed-media art projects or at home with her four cats, who keep her on her toes.
