The Arab Fashion Week is the official fashion week in Dubai and the Arab region, coordinated by the Arab Fashion Council in strategic partnership with Dubai Design District.
The Arab Fashion Week takes place 4 times a year each October and March for Womenswear and each January and June for Menswear.
It is recognized as one of the world’s 5 most important fashion weeks alongside to New York, London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks.
On the 23rd of Apr 2015, H.E. Cav. Mario Boselli, the Honorary President of the Camera Italiana Della Moda (National Chamber of Italian Fashion) that organizes Milan Fashion Week, and the Arab Fashion Council. Mario Boselli stated during the announcement press conference” Arab Fashion Week is the new landmark of the Fashion Industry and to be on the Calendar alongside to New York, London, Milan & Paris”.
The first edition of the Arab Fashion Week (AFW) was held in Dubai from 31 October till 2 November 2015.
In April 2018 AFC organized the first-ever fashion week in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the support of the General Entertainment Authority in Riyadh from 10-14 April 2018.
In May 2018, the Arab Fashion Week took place at the Queen Elizabeth II cruise to become the first floating fashion week.
From March 2020 till June 2021 the Arab Fashion Week has become digital due to the Covid 19 pandemic, it was broadcasted online in partnership with Facebook Inc.
On the 5 of Jan 2021, the Arab Fashion Week announced the first-ever Men’s Fashion Week in the history of the Middle East in collaboration with the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode the French organization that coordinated Paris Fashion Week. The event then took place digitally in partnership with Facebook Inc from 28-20 Jan 2021 and achieved over 1.4 Billion views and impressions. With the Men’s Arab Fashion Week the event is now hosted 4 times a year.
In October 2021 the Arab Fashion Week has returned to in-person shows at the Dubai Design District.
Arab Fashion Week is now considered one of the world’s five most important fashion weeks in the world, as featured in Vogue Italy and other important press.
The Arab Fashion Week, Dubai admits to its platform not only local Arab designers but also international brands from all over the world. The selection of designers is not based on nationality but on the many different factors that determine the brand’s qualification.
