Ten homegrown home decor brands and enterprises will participate in the Index Dubai, the largest trade show in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region focuses on interior design and furniture, the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) said.
Set to take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from May 27 to 29, 2025, the trade show attracts thousands of visitors, including architects, developers, interior designers, procurement professionals, and retailers from around the world.
CITEM Executive Director Leah Pulido Ocampo said that under its banner DESIGNPhilippines, the country’s delegation will carry the theme “Handcrafted for the World,” underscoring the Philippines’ enduring strength in craftsmanship, artistry, and design-led product development.
Leveraging the country’s brand of craftsmanship and heritage, the collections to be featured in INDEX Dubai include furniture and home decor made mostly of sustainable materials such as clay, leather, stone, rattan, and wood.
World stage
Arksmith, a furniture design and manufacturing brand and one of the Philippine exhibitors, will unveil its latest offering The Ysla Collectionat the show. This new line pays tribute to sustainability and community storytelling, celebrating local craftsmanship and advocating for the preservation of both cultural and natural heritage.
Another exhibitor, Red Slab Pottery, already has a strong market presence in the region. The brand takes pride in using secondary clay deposits to handcraft terracotta slabs, tiles, and jars using traditional techniques.
Other products that will be featured at the Philippine pavilion are garden and outdoor furniture and accessories from Aerostone and Fifty One All Weather Furniture; home decor and furniture from Prizmic & Brill, South Sea Veneer, and Studio Moodism; and accessories and clutch bags from Kitsilver and Mindanao Pearl Center.
DESIGNPhilippines is also expanding its sourcing repertoire to raw materials through the participation of Uratex, a leading foam manufacturer in the country. The brand is widely known for its extensive lineup of products, including mattresses, pillows, bed accessories, and furniture.
CITEM has tapped acclaimed designer and storyteller Ito Kish to serve as the Creative Director for the country’s participation this year. His eponymous brand of over 25 years is renowned for its statement furniture pieces inspired by classic Filipino designs and forms.
Kish will focus on product curation and visual merchandising of the Philippine pavilion to support participating exhibitors as they try to impress buyers from the MENA market.
CITEM said this also marks its return to Index Dubai after its last participation in 2019.
Ocampo emphasized the importance of INDEX Dubai as a platform to reach new global markets for the country’s world class design and manufacturing capabilities. “With MENA’s rising demand brought by industry diversification, we believe Philippine enterprises from the home sector can contribute to this transformation,” she said.
The MENA region is seeing growth in the interior design and furniture sector, with market forecasts indicating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.74 percent between 2025 and 2029. This would bring the total market value to an estimated US$10.35 billion by 2029. Key drivers include increased infrastructure investments, tourism development, and large-scale projects under national efforts like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s economic reforms.
The Philippine pavilion at INDEX Dubai will be situated at the Trade Centre Arena, alongside other major international exhibitors. INDEX Dubai 2025 is co-located with two other key events: WORKSPACE, focused on office design and innovation, and The Hotel Show, targeting hospitality interiors. The shows are projected to draw over 30,000 trade visitors.
