Founded by Dubai Design District (d3) and the Arab Fashion Council (AFC), Dubai Fashion Week (DFW) which is formerly known as Arab Fashion Week (AFW), is the industry’s only official platform in Dubai which makes part of the international calendar alongside New York, London, Milan, and Paris fashion weeks.
DFW promotes Dubai on a global level with a highlight on Dubai’s excellence in creativity and fashion business to a worldwide audience.
AW25/26 (COED, WOMEN’S & MEN’S)
7 – 11 February 2025
SS26 (COED, WOMEN’S & MEN’S)
1 – 7 September 2025
On 7 February 2023, Dubai Design District and the Arab Fashion Council announced the launch of the official fashion week, Dubai Fashion Week (DFW), formerly known as Arab Fashion Week (AFW).
Arab Fashion Week’s History:
On 23 April 2015, H.E. Cav. Mario Boselli, the Honorary President of the Camera Italiana Della Moda (National Chamber of Italian Fashion), organizes Milan Fashion Week and the Arab Fashion Council. Mario Boselli stated during the announcement press conference,” Arab Fashion Week is the new landmark of the Fashion Industry and to be on the Calendar alongside New York, London, Milan & Paris.”
The first edition of the Arab Fashion Week (AFW) was held in Dubai from 31 October to 2 November 2015 in the presence of the industry’s heavy names.
In April 2018, AFC organized the first-ever fashion week in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the support of the General Entertainment Authority in Riyadh from 10-14 April 2018.
In May 2018, the Arab Fashion Week took place on the Queen Elizabeth II cruise to become the first floating fashion week.
From March 2020 till June 2021, the Arab Fashion Week became digital due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was broadcasted online in partnership with Meta.
On 5 January 2021, the Arab Fashion Week announced the first-ever Men’s Fashion Week in the history of Asia and Africa in collaboration with the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode the French organization that coordinated Paris Fashion Week. The event then took place digitally in partnership with Meta from 28-20 Jan 2021 and achieved over 1.4 Billion views and impressions. With the Men’s Arab Fashion Week the event is now hosted 4 times a year.
From October 2021 till October 2022, Arab Fashion Week has returned to in-person shows at the Dubai Design District.
Through its seven years and 21 seasons, the Arab Fashion Week (AFW) featured some of the fashion industry’s most renowned names on its Calendar, such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Iris van Herpen, and Moschino.
Dubai Fashion Week (DFW) admits to its platform not only local Arab designers but also international brands from all over the world. The selection of designers is not based on nationality but on the many factors determining the brand’s qualification. A jury composed of international fashion experts votes quarterly on selecting the fashion designers that make part of the official calendar.
Designers & Brands application, criteria, terms and conditions is available here.
Discover how you could be part of the Dubai Fashion Week for both Womenswear or Menswear, scale up your presence in the Middle East or Europe and the possibility to join the region’s creative community at Dubai Design District.
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