As the Executive Director of the Dubai Design District (d3), Khadija Al Bastaki’s focus has always been to position Dubai as a global design hub and the city’s vibrant design scene is indeed an attestation to her ongoing efforts. With a passion for art, design, and culture, Al Bastaki brings to the table her business expertise while planning d3's vision and future growth plans. She is also responsible for inviting international companies to partake in Dubai's creative scene, while creating platforms aimed at empowering small businesses.
Al Bastaki holds an MBA in Strategic Management at Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi, and a Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering at the institution's Dubai branch. Since the start of her career, she has gained 17 years of work experience in business, in addition to having experiences in strategic planning and portfolio management.
Prior to working for d3, she had also worked as Director of Business Development at Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, and Dubai Production City. In 2019, she succeeded CEO Mohammad Saeed Al-Shehhi as the new Executive Director at d3. Her appointment came as the UAE prioritized giving more women leadership roles across the nation.
As Executive Director at d3, Al Bastaki works closely with the UAE government and foreign companies in fostering a creative venue in Dubai. She also helped establish ecosystems such as in5 Design, which allows students, small businesses, and start-ups to get their foot on the door while providing them with workshops and work spaces.
Furthermore, Al Bastaki is spearheading innovation in the design scene, while managing major events such as Dubai Design Week, Downtown Design, and Arab Fashion Week. In 2022, for instance, she oversaw the launch of the Men’s Arab Fashion Week FW22/23, which also broadcasted via the Metaverse in addition to implementing non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
