Paris, London, New York and Milan. For years, these have been the undisputed big four global fashion hubs. Each plays a major role in my business operations, but in recent years I have spent more time in Dubai, a point of global connectivity which brings together the best of fashion, from Asia to Europe and Africa. It is here that I have received so much inspiration including during one of the city’s most challenging moments.

Earlier this year I travelled to Dubai with plans to expand one of my core businesses, the Creative Economy Forum. The Forum has an event in Puglia, Italy, later this year and I hope to bring it to Dubai in the near future.

For a network aiming to bring global leaders in the creative industry together, Dubai is a logical destination to host a future forum. As someone who has travelled internationally for my work, I find myself routinely coming back to Dubai. Not only are all global brands here, but home-grown talent is also evolving at pace.

Dubai is home to a large expatriate population. From a fashion perspective it means that we are seeing some of the most unique designs created by undiscovered artists that found their inspiration in the region.  A designer might combine African textiles or silhouettes with Gulf ideas around modest fashion, or South Asian craftsmanship with a very contemporary Dubai aesthetic. As Vogue has noted, 68% of designers in Dubai Fashion Week 2025 edition came from outside the UAE.

It does not imitate Paris or Milan – it offers something other hubs don’t have: a true intersection of cultures spanning East, West, Asia and Africa. It was for these reasons that I was so keen to return this year.

The time of my travel? March 2026.

I could never have anticipated what unfolded next or the fact that I would come away somehow more convinced about Dubai’s appeal as a talent hub which is creating the next fashion generation.

The hospitality and support that I felt during my visit was genuine and compelling. Despite some of my meetings being cancelled and my stay being extended, it has in no way discouraged me. Quite the opposite. The business ties and personal relationships I forged will last for a long time.

My visit demonstrated that even in the midst of crisis, Dubai’s resilience kicks in. Entrepreneurs keep working, and ideas keep formulating.

So, what parallels can I draw with what I experienced and what the fashion industry needs?

When I think of the existing Big Four fashion destinations, I think of deep culture, sophistication, elegance but also grit and determination. From the subways of Manhattan to the dark winter streets of London, each fashion capital has its own story to tell. So does Dubai.

At the same fashion show, you can meet fashion designers from Milan, investors from Lagos, buyers from Doha and creatives from London. The city is home to around 200 nationalities, and that diversity is directly reflected in its fashion scene which incorporates everything from luxury brands from the West to modern interpretations of Middle Eastern aesthetics. There is also an increasingly visible African design scene.

As someone with African roots and origins, that last point is of particular importance. Dubai has become the place where a growing number of African designers are finding audiences, partnerships and investors, allowing them to enter the market and gain global exposure.  Take Joe Osawaye as one example, a Nigerian entrepreneur who founded Kiza Bespoke, a luxury tailoring house that has showcased its designs through Africa Fashion Week Middle East in Dubai. Dubai’s growing events scene provides unparalleled opportunities for large-scale exposure.

Economic resilience means that Dubai’s investment in the sector continues where other markets slow due to external shocks. This is a vital consideration for those assessing expansion opportunities.

Besides cultural significance, the emirate offers other necessary components that the fashion industry requires — modern infrastructure, fast and reliable logistics, low tax rates, and a growing number of specialised zones such as Dubai Design District which has become the epicentre for designers, agencies and creative entrepreneurs. It also crucially hosts, among other things, Dubai Fashion Week, now one of the region’s leading fashion events.

Dubai is, like the fashion industry, always adapting. It continues to support the sector through targeted investment in events and forums that connect the creative economy with investors, which is all the more reason for me to establish a strong foothold in Dubai.

Of course, fashion entrepreneurs like myself want to expand globally. There is no question that other markets like New York and London will play a key role, but Dubai will also be central to my growth story.

My recent experience in Dubai has only reinforced what the fashion industry already knew: the emirate has built a reputation as an adaptive, resilient city. That confidence and trust, combined with cultural variety, openness and ambitious plans for future development, continues to generate positive growth stories.

Taiwo Meghoma is a designer, fashion consultant and Co-President of the Creative Economy Forum.