The next decade belongs to Gulf design — and the world is finally paying attention.
Lara Palmer: You have spent a decade shaping Dubai Design District. What does the next phase look like? Khadija Al Bastaki: We are moving from building spaces to building an ecosystem — the infrastructure exists, now it is about the people. L.P.: And how do you measure that shift? Khadija Al Bastaki: By the number of homegrown studios that choose to stay and scale here rather than leave for London or Milan. L.P.: A bold benchmark. Khadija Al Bastaki: The region rewards boldness. The cautious version of this story was never going to be interesting.