Khadija Al Bastaki

Khadija Al Bastaki is the Senior Vice President of Dubai Design District (d3), a global business hub for design, art and creativity which is part of TECOM Group PJSC. She joined d3’s leadership team in 2019, developing and launching a series of strategic cultural and commercial initiatives to nurture and amplify local and regional homegrown creative talent as well as attract global direct foreign investment into Dubai’s design and creative sector. The d3 ecosystem, which this year marks a decade of creative excellence, provides state-of-the-art infrastructure to meet the needs of more than 1,100 customers and 20,000 creative professionals. It plays a leading role in contributing to the creative economy of Dubai, the UAE and the wider region.

Under Khadija’s leadership, d3 played a leading role in co-founding Dubai Fashion Week, the region’s definitive fashion showcase. d3 is also a key strategic partner for Dubai Design Week, the region’s largest creative festival, and Downtown Design.  Furthermore, the district is home to Sole DXB, a lifestyle and youth culture showcase.

In the past year Khadija has secured partnerships with Fuorisalone.it and Brera Design District, two keystone entities of Milan Design Week, and the Milan-based Isola Design Group, renowned for providing visibility and opportunities to global independent designers, design studios, and brands.  Isola Design Group opened its first-ever regional headquarters in d3, and under Khadija’s leadership, d3 co-launched with them the innovative Design Next, a first-of-its-kind exhibition on the circular economy.  She has also forged partnerships with Vogue Business and the Milano Durini Design Association, all aimed at further elevating the profile of Dubai’s creative ecosystem in key international markets.

Khadija’s achievements at d3 have earned her numerous notable awards and listings. She was selected among Arabian Business’ 50 Inspiring Women Leaders 2024, Forbes Middle East’s Fashion Innovators 2024, Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 Most Powerful Businesswoman 2024.  She also won Entrepreneur Middle East’s Outstanding Contribution to Business Award 2024 and the Editor’s Choice Award at the Emirates Woman Awards 2024. In 2023, Khadija earned a spot alongside global fashion industry mavens and luminaries in the prestigious Business of Fashion (BoF) 500 Class of 2023. The BoF 500 is the definitive index of people shaping today’s global fashion industry. She was also Gulf Business’s Businesswoman of the Year in 2021 and included in its Top Business Influencers for 2024.

In 2024, Khadija was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Dubai Women Establishment (DWE), formed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to empower Emirati women to become key contributors to the nation’s progress. Khadija is also a member of Media Diplomacy and Communication for the Government of Dubai Media Office. In addition, she is a certified Director by the Mudara Institute of Directors and has completed the Women on International Boards Programme with the Institute of Directors in London, Europe's largest membership organisation for directors and other business leaders.

Prior to her position at d3, Khadija undertook roles in the wider TECOM Group with Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City and Dubai Production City.  Before that, she worked with Economic Zones World, Jebel Ali Free Zone and DP World. Khadija holds a Master’s in Business Administration and Strategic Management from the Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi, and a Bachelor’s in Software Engineering Technology from the Higher Colleges of Technology in Dubai.