Meet Khadija Al Bastaki
With experience in business development and protocol, portfolio management, and international relations, Khadija Al Bastaki, Executive Director, Dubai Design District talks about art, life and women
You have 14 years of experience in developing projects and businesses. How have you seen the design scene develop in the UAE? On a
global scale, the design sector is becoming increasingly important. Governments and organisations are realising the value and potential that this sector can bring to the economy. The UAE has been no exception to this global trend as the local design sector has blossomed over the past few years and it is also considered an essential pillar for economic and cultural development. We are lucky because our leadership has backed this notion as one of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s visions is to establish the UAE as a home for creatives and designers whilst positioning the country as an incubator for the creative sector.
There are now numerous art galleries that have opened their doors in the UAE, and many art exhibitions, programmes and events taking place that promote both local and international artists. At d3, we have many art galleries in our hub and we often host events that are directly related to the design sector – one of the major upcoming events this year is Dubai Design Week, which is taking place this month. We’ve also witnessed a number of our local artists take centre stage and make notable leeway in international markets.
You studied software engineering. What made you move into the business field and art specifically? I studied software
engineering technology at the Higher Colleges of Technology in Dubai to pursue a career in IT. I had a short stint in this field only to realise that this is not where my passion lies. I needed to be in a sector where I could carve a career that I was passionate about in addition to developing my commercial acumen. I then pursued my Master’s degree in Business Administration and Strategic Management. This helped me understand the business environment which I have been able to apply to numerous facets of my career.
Prior to my role as d3’s Executive Director, I was Director of Business Development for Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, and Dubai Production City, members of TECOM Group which of course, d3 is part of too. d3 presented a unique opportunity to meet people, promote Dubai as a creative destination while travelling to key markets to promote d3 and in turn Dubai. Design has always been one of my passions and it is important for me to play a role in enabling a strong design community in the UAE whilst elevating the UAE culture and design scene to a global level.
How do you plan to support homegrown companies? Supporting
homegrown companies is one of d3’s main objectives. As a first-of-its-kind creative ecosystem, we aspire to create an environment that enables local companies to grow and co-create, whilst simultaneously providing a strong platform for regional creativity.
The cost of setting up a company at d3 is low and the administration process is quick and easy. Our robust infrastructure also gives local companies access to stateof-the-art facilities as well as access to multinational peers who are also set up at d3, which promotes networking and collaboration.
What’s more, is that we have in5 Design, Dubai’s cutting-edge business incubator, embedded at Hai d3. Through in5, d3 supports the design industry by offering entrepreneurs the opportunity to materialise their ideas.
As a successful woman, what kind of obstacles have you faced in a male dominated environment? And how have you handled it? I have been very fortunate
in my career – through my experience with TECOM Group, who I worked with for many years, I have been as empowered as my male counterparts leading other business parks. In fact, women have as good a chance as men to be promoted to senior leadership roles at TECOM Group. This ideology is also in line with the UAE’s ambitions to have a gender-balanced society.
In your opinion, what makes d3 an important destination in the UAE. One of
our main aims is to enable both international
and local designers, artists and creative professionals to unite, create and inspire. The Design Quarter, the central component in the development of d3, is now home to over 9,000 people comprising offices, studios, showrooms and retail spaces spread across the district.
We also place particular emphasis on entrepreneurship and provide the right support, infrastructure and learning to allow entrepreneurs to grow and develop within their respective industries.
The Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI), located at d3, provides an immersive learning experience to aspiring designers with unique access to the region’s most established and renowned designers and innovators.
Hai d3 is also home to in5 Design, an enabling platform for aspiring design and fashion talents and entrepreneurs. in5 Design hosts a growing community of like-minded peers and supports them to transform their disruptive ideas into commercial success.
How do you plan to support women in the design field? I think the most important
aspect of supporting women is to give them equal opportunities and encourage them to be entrepreneurs. There has been an increase in the number of women entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses in the UAE. This has also been reflected in the design industry. Many women are now choosing the creative industry as a career option or starting it as a side business. It is very important for this to continue, as women entrepreneurship is a driver for economic growth and development.
We also support new recruits from the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI) so that they have hands-on experience within our creative ecosystem. A number of talks, programs and initiatives related to art, design and fashion are held on a monthly basis to support and encourage students, young professionals and women looking to gain further insight into the field while presenting them with the opportunity to network with industry experts.
Would you consider having development plans beyond the UAE? Dubai has definitely
become the hub for design and is attracting talents from across the GCC. We regularly conduct community outreach and are currently focusing on GCC countries such as Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. We have also extended this outreach internationally to Europe (United Kingdom and Italy) as well as to China.
What’s your favourite type of art?
I like many types of art; however, I specifically love Emirati art. Recently, d3 hosted a special exhibition entitled ‘Self’ that highlighted the works of 12 female Emirati artists to mark Emirati Women’s Day. We saw the works of artists such as Maitha Demithan, Alaa Edris and Mahra Almehairi to name a few.
What can we expect from Sole DXB this year? d3 and Sole DXB have a longstanding
relationship – this year will be the sixth year that the event is hosted at d3. Both d3 and Sole DXB align with the mandate of championing homegrown talent on an international scale.
Without giving too much away, Sole DXB 2019 will celebrate the sights and sounds of Jamaica, so you can look forward to exciting talks, live performances, exhibitions and of course, a showcase of the latest urban fashion. Several of d3’s creative partners will also be participating in this year’s event and will be launching special collaborations.
THE BLOCK, d3’s urban space, will be a central point of Sole DXB, featuring a streetball tournament and the Sneaker Swap where visitors will have the opportunity to buy sell and trade footwear from leading collectors in the region.
What can we expect from Dubai Design Week this year? As a strategic partner and
venue for Dubai Design Week (DDW), you can expect d3’s Design Quarter to be filled with an even larger showcase of design across many fields.
Several of d3’s partners will be participating in DDW – many d3 showrooms will open their retail space to the public. Visitors are also welcome to attend a packed schedule of workshops on topics such as 3D printing, design technology, Arabic typography, architecture and virtual reality, and interact with innovative installations that allow them to create their own art.
DIDI will hold several workshops whilst DIDI and in5 will showcase an exhibition by the 2019 DIDI-in5 Residency Program that has brought together the institute’s faculty and students with in5 members and start-ups to develop three projects.