Retail Abu Dhabi, the retail platform of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), is to launch the inaugural Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week. The 10-day festival taking place across the UAE capital from 7 to 16 October will be a celebration of collectors and collections in the retail, design,entertainment and culinary spheres.
Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week will pay homage to the ceaseless passion of collectors, their ‘must have’ products and the ways they have expanded their most treasured collections from the ground up. It will also aim to inspire existing and prospective collectors to experience the joy and thrill of building and growing their own collections.
Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week will feature a calendar of city-wide events, providing visitors with access to bespoke, exclusive collections and creative experiences. It will be anchored by Semi Permanent Middle East,a first-in-the-region global design and creativity festival hosted at Manarat Al Saadiyat from 14 to 16 October. The event will see more than 20 leading international collectors, designers and entertainers, with headline sessions from the likes of Mark Ronson and RefikAnadol.
“Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week is designed to create a true celebration of the world’s creative landscape right here in Abu Dhabi through the curation of new and exciting collectors’ experiences across the retail, creative and culinary sectors,” said HE Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi.
“We are confident this exciting new addition to Abu Dhabi’s increasingly diverse events calendar will elevate the emirate’s local and international tourism offering, and underline Abu Dhabi’s steering role as an enabling beacon of innovation for the regional design and creative industries.”
Another highlight of Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week will be the exclusive Collectors’ Prom, which will feature exhibitions including NFTs, a sneakers collective and a cars emporium that will be open to the public. There will also be a series of immersiveAbu Dhabi-wide pop-ups demonstrating incredible brand retrospectives and new product drops supported by in-store collection launches at 15 leading malls and several off-premise retail and culinary activations at key locations across the UAE capital.
The anchor event, Semi Permanent will feature the first-ever international debut of The Flower Shop, the renowned New York culinary space frequented by creatives globally, while La Rosa Social Club, created by artist and director Aaron Rose, will join distinguished international design, retail, branding, fashion and technology industry talent. Retail pop-ups will include global brand Haydenshapes and exclusive merchandise from the House of Artisans, among others.
In support of DCT Abu Dhabi’s ongoing domestic and international tourism objectives, Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week aims to strengthen the emirate’s position as a key destination for exclusive shopping experiences, recreational initiatives and unique culinary activations.
Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week will be held under DCT Abu Dhabi’s ongoing Go Safe Certification initiative, which continues to apply strict health and safety protocols in line with Government of Abu Dhabi directives.
General admission tickets to Semi Permanent Middle East are now on sale at https://semipermanent.com/events/middle-east-2021.
For more information, please visit https://www.retailabudhabi.ae/collectors-week
