Creative Dialogues has announced the launch of TheMENAEdit, the Middle East and North Africa’s first structured cross-border design collective, bringing together 21 creatives from 10 countries to collaborate on original design works ahead of Cairo Design Week 2026.
The initiative, co-produced by Creative Dialogues, Design Point, and Creative Districts, represents a new model for regional creative collaboration. The programme will culminate in a major exhibition during Cairo Design Week, scheduled to take place from November 19 to 28, 2026.
A New Chapter for Regional Design Collaboration
TheMENAEdit introduces an innovative approach to design collaboration across the MENA region. Seven multidisciplinary teams have been formed, each bringing together creatives from the Gulf, the Levant, North Africa, and Egypt. Every group will work collectively to develop a limited-edition design object inspired by shared cultural heritage, diverse perspectives, and collaborative storytelling.
Unlike traditional exhibitions that showcase individual works under a common theme, TheMENAEdit focuses on collective creation. Participants will engage in a structured co-creation process spanning research, concept development, prototyping, refinement, and final production.
Organizers say the initiative aims to demonstrate how design can transcend geographical boundaries while fostering stronger creative ties across the region.
21 Creatives Representing 10 Countries
The collective features designers, architects, artists, curators, urban practitioners, and cultural innovators from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Qatar.
Participants include renowned figures such as HRH Princess Noura bint Saud Al Saud, conceptual artist Sara Dhafer Alahbabi, architect Cherif Morsi, multidisciplinary artist Ghalia Benali, designer Sara Al Nafisi, and architect Alia Mortada, among others.
The diverse mix of disciplines reflects the growing importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in shaping the future of design across the MENA region.
Cairo Design Week to Showcase Process and Outcome
The exhibition at Cairo Design Week 2026 will present not only the final design objects but also the creative journey behind each project. Visitors will be able to explore research materials, sketches, prototypes, and documentation that reveal how the works evolved through dialogue and collaboration.
According to Creative Dialogues Founder and Executive Director Yasmine VandaTrofast, TheMENAEdit seeks to prove that “design does not stop at borders” and aims to build a movement that connects creatives across the region through shared experiences and collaborative storytelling.
Design Point founders Karim El Hayawan and Nehal Leheta emphasized that Cairo Design Week provides an ideal platform for bringing together diverse voices and disciplines, while Creative Districts highlighted the programme’s role in fostering meaningful cultural exchange.
Expanding Beyond Cairo
Following its debut in Cairo, TheMENAEdit exhibition is expected to travel across GCC countries, extending its impact and strengthening creative networks throughout the region.
Organizers view the initiative as more than an exhibition. By prioritizing collaboration over individual authorship, TheMENAEdit aims to establish a new framework for regional creative engagement and demonstrate the potential of collective design practices in shaping the future of the MENA creative economy.
