The Dubai Design and Fashion Council (DDFC) has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer, Jazia Al Dhanhani, who will lead the development of the Council’s strategic plan in line with the objectives set out by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to promote Dubai as a global destination for design and fashion while developing and supporting emerging talent.
“We are pleased to welcome Jazia Al Dhanhani as DDFC’s Chief Executive Officer. Jazia has been an integral member of the Council’s development team. Her contribution to the design community, including, most recently, the launch of the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation, has been invaluable. With Jazia’s appointment, we are looking forward to continuing to create platforms to support the design industry in Dubai and develop Emirati and regional creative talent,” commented Dr Amina Al Rustamani, Chairperson of DDFC.
Ms Al Dhanhani joined DDFC in early 2016 as Executive Director of Industry Development & Marketing, bringing 20 years of industry experience to DDFC to lead the development of the Council’s strategic plan. She played a pivotal role in implementing its vision and mission to establish Dubai as a regional and international hub for design and fashion. She also supervised the development of many projects — the latest being the DDFC Mentorship and Internship Programmes which actively support the development of emerging creatives and provide businesses with access to a dynamic pool of talent from the region. Previously, Ms Al Dhanhani held leading positions at the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), SmartCity, and Emaar.
“DDFC has made a significant contribution to bringing Dubai to the forefront of the international design community. Our goal for 2017 is to maintain the sustainable growth of the design industry in Dubai. Going forward, we will focus on initiatives for emerging and established designers to build their careers, implement new strategies that create long-term value for the community, and expand our reach within and outside the UAE,” added Ms Al Dhanhani.