On 2 and 3 September 2025, Dubai hosted the second stage of the “Italian Fashion Days in the World”, an initiative launched last January by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, within the framework of “growth diplomacy”, in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and the main trade associations in the fashion sector. The initiative stems from a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Rome in January with ANFAO, the National Chamber for Italian Fashion, Confapi Uniontessile, Confartigianato Moda, Confartigianato Orafi, CNA Federmoda, CNA Orafi, Confindustria Accessori Moda, Confindustria FEDERORAFI, Confindustria Moda – Textile and Fashion Federation, and Altagamma.
After the successful launch in Osaka during the Expo, the format – aimed at fostering further internationalisation of the sector, which comprises over 62,000 companies and more than 500,000 employees – reached Dubai, a key hub in the Gulf and one of the main destinations for Italian fashion houses. Exports in the sector to the United Arab Emirates recorded unprecedented growth in 2024, reaching EUR 1.27 billion, an increase of 34.4% compared with the previous year. This positive trend continues in the current year: according to the latest available data, in the first five months of 2025 exports amounted to EUR 620 million, marking an 18.8% rise compared to the same period of the previous year.
Dubai, the Emirates and the wider Gulf region are not only significant in terms of consumption, but also serve as a testing ground for the development of new trends, both in products and in consumer habits and purchasing methods, increasingly shaped by technological and digital solutions. Meanwhile, Dubai Fashion Week has established itself as one of the most anticipated fashion events in the region. Planning of initiatives in Dubai – both for the Italian Fashion Days in the World and for broader promotional activities throughout the year – consistently takes these aspects into account.
On 2 September, the Consulate General, together with ITA, hosted the exhibition “Italia è Moda”, curated by Clara Tosi Pamphili with the participation of the trade associations that signed the Memorandum of Understanding. The exhibition-event was organised in partnership with Dubai Fashion Week and Level Shoes, the world’s largest online platform for luxury footwear.
On the evening of 3 September, Italian fashion took centre stage at Dubai Fashion Week: thanks to the renewed partnership with ITA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, six Italian designers presented their creations on the Dubai catwalks.
