Dubai Design and Fashion Council was established as per Decree No. (23) of 2013 issued by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
It was set up as a joint effort of the Dubai Executive Council and the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority (now Dubai Creative Clusters Authority) to develop a road map for the design and fashion industry. One of the Council's initial mandate was to deliver a comprehensive strategy outlining and guiding the growth and development of Dubai’s fashion industry. Nez Gebreel is the CEO of Dubai Design and Fashion Council.
The Council helps in connecting talent to their core market through guidance and access to the best business minds in the creative industry. It supports designers in putting together the business model, attracting funds and sourcing manufacturing and production units. Members of the Council board — a mix of corporate and creative individuals — are on hand to help. The council also works towards development of Intellectual Property laws in the region and implementation through education of its members and the community.
In October 2015, the Council released the MENA Design Outlook 2015 Report, offering a comprehensive analysis of the Middle East's design industry. In May 2016, it released the MENA Design Education Outlook Report, which provides an insight into the design education landscape of the MENA region. The MENA Design Education Outlook focuses on six key design markets in the region including the UAE, Qatar, Lebanon, Jordan and Kuwait.
Part of the Council's mandate is also to start a design school in the region.