INDEX 2025 Concludes with Resounding Success, Showcasing Global Innovations, Cultural Design, and Sustainable Solutions

• Now into its fourth decade, MENA’s flagship interior design and furniture exhibition is providing the perfect platform for the industry to gather and discover new innovations

Dubai, UAE – The Middle East and North Africa’s premier interior design and furniture exhibition, INDEX 2025, wrapped up a successful three-day run at the Dubai World Trade Centre, leaving the regional design community energized and inspired. Officially inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and Chairman of Dubai Airports, the event brought together the best of international and local design from May 27–29, spanning 12 halls including the Trade Centre Arena.

Organized by dmg events, INDEX 2025 was held in conjunction with The Hotel Show, WORKSPACE, and HITEC, drawing an expected 35,000 visitors and showcasing over 900 exhibitors from 48 countries. The exhibition served as a vibrant hub for interior designers, architects, suppliers, and developers to connect, collaborate, and explore the future of design.

Platform for Design Innovation and Dialogue
A major highlight of this year’s INDEX was the Geberit-sponsored Design Talks Stage, a cozy, purpose-built space designed by 4SPACE, where leading voices from the industry shared key insights on the future of design, sustainability, and local identity.

During one of the early panel discussions titled “Inspired Spaces: Merging Architectural Vision with Design Details,” Ms. Nadia Shafiq, Design Director at OMNIYAT, emphasized the importance of collaboration from the outset of a project. She discussed how value engineering and budget considerations must be balanced with creative vision. Referring to design teams as “the internal policemen of budgeting,” she underscored the need for compromise and transparency in execution.

Celebrating Regional Heritage and Local Materials
The importance of regional identity was a recurring theme. In a session dedicated to “Balancing Heritage with Interpretation,” Sumaya Dabbagh, founder of Dabbagh Architects, and Fabio Grilli, Head of Design and Development at Emaar Properties, explored how authenticity and context are key when adapting heritage into modern design. Dabbagh emphasized that heritage should not only be preserved but reinterpreted using the materials and technologies available today to create meaningful, contemporary narratives.

Grilli highlighted the strategic use of locally sourced materials, such as Saudi and Omani stone and regionally produced glass, to establish a deeper connection with the surroundings. He acknowledged the logistical challenges of sourcing all materials locally but reaffirmed its value in elevating design rooted in place.

Rabah Saeid, Founder of Styled Habitat, shared that younger Emiratis show genuine curiosity about culturally relevant materials when properly presented, signaling a bright future for homegrown design movements.

Homegrown Talent on a Global Stage
INDEX 2025 also celebrated UAE-based talent making waves globally. Paul Bishop, founder of Bishop Design, reflected on nearly three decades of living in the Emirates and the evolution of his brand from local studio to international design powerhouse. Bishop’s renowned work in the hospitality sector—including the Michelin-starred Torno Subito by Massimo Bottura on Palm Jumeirah—was highlighted as a prime example of UAE-based design excellence with international appeal.

Product Launches and Market Innovation
The exhibition also served as a launch platform for breakthrough products. André Rathammer, Managing Director of WONDA, introduced a new barrier-free washbasin system offering hidden water and wastewater connections for a seamless and accessible bathroom experience. “Dubai has always embraced innovation, and INDEX is the perfect stage to launch a product like ours,” he noted.

Ahmed Al-Rumaili, Product Line Manager at Geberit, echoed this sentiment, stating: “INDEX Dubai has grown remarkably over the years—not just in scale, but in the diversity of people it attracts. It’s no longer just for industry professionals, but for anyone passionate about design and comfortable living.”

Looking Ahead
As INDEX 2025 closes its doors, it reaffirms its position as the most influential design event in the MENA region, paving the way for future conversations about sustainability, regional identity, and design innovation. The event has proven once again that Dubai remains a global design capital, where tradition meets cutting-edge trends, and where the future of interior design is continually reimagined.