Downtown is known as “West El Balad”, as it can be poetically understood to mean “The Heart of the City”. This bustling district of Cairo certainly lives up to the name. It is not only the physical center of Cairo, but also a hub for transportation, business, and culture, centered on Midan El-Tahrir and Midan Talaat Harb.

Downtown Cairo was and still is inspired by Europe’s cities. It possesses a distinct cosmopolitan character, a unique amalgamation from its sheer diversity of styles.

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Explore Experience

Enabling Design Partner
EMAAR MISR

Emaar’s “Enabling Design” initiative is a transformative force within Cairo Design Week, aiming to infuse design excellence into every aspect of life. Recognizing that each element of our daily experience is defined by design, Emaar endeavors to cultivate not just good design but a thriving community in which design is a connecting thread. Their approach to “Enabling Design” is extended from their promise of offering “The Good Life” and derived by the philosophy that a well-designed environment leads to a well-lived one, raising the quality of living and thereby shaping a robust society. During Cairo Design Week, Emaar seeds this vision with diverse events like DeForum, Designathon, Bazarna, When We Eat, and Tayara, geared toward inspiration, education, collaboration, and inclusivity. These events collectively foster a dynamic design community, bridging gaps between enthusiasts and professionals while showcasing and nurturing emerging talent. Emaar’s initiative is designed to democratize and disseminate good design, believing it to be the cornerstone of innovation, community enrichment, and a prosperous, sustainable future. Through “Enabling Design,” Emaar essentially lays the foundation for a culture that appreciates and prioritizes the crucial role of design in enhancing everyday life.

ENABLING DESIGN PARTNER
DEFORUM
CAIRO DESIGNATHON
BAZARNA
WHEN WE EAT
TAYARAH
Stand Alone Experience
TAMARAHAUS

Who are we? We are a unique team of creative thinkers and talented doers who curate experiences, resuscitate buildings, and catapult transformative developments. What we do: We spawn innovative ideas such as immersive installations, “design houses” and hotels in exclusive venues, operating to guarantee exceptional standards are met. Our heritage and culture are at the heart of everything we do, so our mission is to celebrate them in all our services while leaving a positive impact on our community and others. Founded in 2023, Alchemy Experience, a child of Alchemy – a leading design studio in the region, was created with the privilege of harnessing the wealth of design knowledge by Alchemy to deliver avant-garde storytelling and creative experiences.

We are an evolutionary brand that transcends traditional boundaries by offering a unique fusion of spa al codes, lifestyle, products, hospitality, and experiential journeys.
The alchemical process in the company explores links between different worlds, such as spiritual and mater, the conscious and the unconscious, the sensual and the scientific. It recognizes that people are seeking more than just products or services; they crave meaningful experiences that engage and inspire them on a deeper level.  By integrating various elements like design, heritage, art, music, gastronomy, and immersive storytelling, we create a holistic sensory adventure leaving a lasting impression that resonates with our audience.

TAMARA BUILDING
ALCHEMY EXPERIENCE
Stand Alone Experience
WANDER

Wander is a dynamic commercial developer that specializes in the creation and operation of retail, administrative, and hospitality ventures. Our vision is to curate a diverse and expansive brand portfolio across these sectors, with a strategic focus on acquiring and establishing related companies that complement, support, and enhance our core business. At Wander, we are guided by our core values of being human-centric, prioritizing experiential offerings, embracing a future-forward mindset, and fostering a culture of partnership and collaboration. In the Cairo Design Week 2024 edition, we will be launching our experiential platform “GET TO WANDER”, in the heart of Downtown Cairo, it unfolds as an immersive experience that transcends the traditional boundaries of design week. This unique event is not merely a celebration of aesthetics but a collective exploration into the intersections of design and human spirit in a shared space of discovery. The attendees are invited to wander through a journey mapped out for them in a way that challenges preconceived notions, fosters connections and highlights the beauty of diversity in design, talent and the simple pleasures of life.

LA VIENNOISE COURT
Stand Alone Experience
MAZEEJ BALAD

Join us for an experiential journey as you explore the secrets behind Mazeej Balad’s upcoming opening! Mazeej Balad perfectly blends into its surroundings and immerses itself into the culture. Experience the behind the scenes journey as you tour the rooms of our upcoming boutique hotel and get a taste of what’s to come from the gastronomical and hospitality experiences. As you explore each room of our boutique hotel, you’ll get a chance to experience the making of the process and the curation of the setup and design as well as the integration of art into the Mazeej Balad experience.

LA VIENNOISE COURT
MAZEEJ HOTEL
Stand Alone Experience
BAZARNA SOCIETY

Welcome to The Showcase by Bazarna — Where Design Stories Come Alive. Discover the Ride of Design. Step into Bazarna and take a front-seat ride on the roller coaster of creativity. Bazarna is celebrating the brands that made it to CDW by inviting them to show their journey to the world. The journey during curation; from design to reality. This is not just a bazar. This is a multi-sensory experience. A roller coaster ride that will take you through ups and downs, unexpected twists and turns, soaring highs and deep dives. Get ready to a bumpy ride, it won’t be easy but it’ll surely be worth it. We are inviting you to join the journey of those brands through living their stories and experiences.

BEHIND EVERY BRAND, A STORY UNFOLDS.

Buckle up and enjoy the ride!

THE HANGAR (WAREHOUSE)
Downtown Design District
CAIRO DESIGNATHON

Cairo Designathon is the first and only design marathon in Egypt and MENA region, established in 2020, aiming to generate positive social impact through good design. Operated by KAIROS CDC as a collaborative design movement, Cairo Designathon aims to advance and highlight the importance of Innovation and Design thinking, in solving global and local urban and social problems. In Cairo Design Week 2024, Cairo Designathon is organizing its 4th official round, with 6 diverse design challenges, spanning a variety of design disciplines including Architecture, Interior Design, Furniture, Product Design, Graphics, and Fashion.

CONSOLEYA
CONTENT PARTNER
Downtown Design District
DEFORUM

DeForum is Egypt’s first and strongest design Forum, launched in 2021, and operated by KAIROS CDC. DeForum has had 3 successful editions since its start, hosting more than 80 talks and discussion panels. DeForum covers a diverse breadth of topics including Architecture and the built environment, Industrial and Product Design, Media, Entrepreneurship, Heritage, and Uban development. In Cairo Design Week 2024, DeForum is organizing its 4th official round, with an exciting lineup of Egyptian and international, design and industry pioneers.

RADIO THEATRE
CONTENT PARTNER
Downtown Design District
FILM MY DESIGN

“Edible Aesthetics” Film Program (FEB 28th – MAR 2nd , 2024)

Film My Design (FMD) presents the “Edible Aesthetics” film program – a curated selection of films, discussions, and a workshop series that explores the intricate relationship between culinary art and design. Through a multidisciplinary approach, this program delves into the ways in which food is elevated beyond its functional purpose to become an artistic and visual experience on the plate and beyond. By examining documentaries and narratives, viewers gain insights into the design principles, techniques, and creative processes employed by chefs and designers to craft visually captivating food. The program aims to illuminate the design process of fusing gastronomy with aesthetics, offering a deeper understanding of how textures, colors, space, products, and presentations contribute to the overall culinary experience. This program is curated by Salma Serry (Food Studies Researcher, Awarded Filmmaker and Founder of Sufra Archive) and will be held during the 2nd edition of Cairo Design Week. Film My Design (FMD) is the first and only design-film festival in the MENA region, taking place in Cairo, Egypt. This program is funded by USAID – Business Egypt.

CINEMA RADIO
CONTENT PARTNER
Downtown Design District
DESIGNDUSTRY
EXHIBITOR
THE FACTORY
KODAK COURT
WORKSHOPS PARTNER
Downtown Design District
HODA LASHEEN
EXHIBITOR
THE FACTORY
Downtown Design District
MAZMAZZA
EXHIBITOR
THE FACTORY
Downtown Design District
SEDA
EXHIBITOR
THE FACTORY
Downtown Design District
STUDIO 34
KODAK COURT
WORKSHOPS PARTNER
Downtown Design District
CAIRO WORKSHOP
KODAK COURT
WORKSHOPS PARTNER
Downtown Design District
DOKAN
EXHIBITOR
THE FACTORY
Downtown Design District
CAIROPOLITAN
EXHIBITOR
THE FACTORY
Downtown Design District
HOUSE BABYLON
EXHIBITOR
THE FACTORY
Downtown Design District
EFEC
EXHIBITOR
THE FACTORY
Downtown Design District
ELARABY
EXHIBITOR
THE FACTORY
Downtown Design District
PINOCCHIO
EXHIBITOR
THE FACTORY

DeForum AGENDA

SUNDAY

25 FEB

Time clt

Name

3:30 PM

Exploring culture identity and heritage in design (Arabic)

Ayman Khalil

4:15 PM

Architecture Photography: Telling the Story (Arabic)

Nour El Refai

5:00 PM

Architecture Stories: Discussion Panel (Arabic/English)

Ebtissam Farid Sherif Abdelmohsen Omar Kishk Deena EL-Mahdy Moderator: Ahmed Nasr
Sherif Abdelmohse
Omar Kishk
Deena EL-Mahdy
Moderator: Ahmed Nasr

5:45 PM

Khufu Restaurant: A Tale of Collaboration Success and Global Recognition

Hisham Ghorab
Giovanni Bolandrini

6:45 PM

Urban planning and mobility from a Copenhagen

Jakob Steen Christensen

7:30 PM

The role of design in activating and rejuvenating heritage

Karim el Shafie
Karim Mekhtigan
Mai Galal
Ahmed Shaboury
Moderator: Lamaan Elgallal

8:15 PM

Design for Hospitality

Heba El Dessouky
Shady ElGhoneimy
Moataz Sedky

Monday

26 FEB

Time clt

Name

3:30 PM

Why Sustainable Furniture Matters: The Environmental Impact of Your Home (English)

Dahlia Salem

4:15 PM

The importance of consumer understanding in the design process (Arabic)

Youssef El Araby

5:00 PM

Panel Discussion (Arabic)

Cherif Morsi
Indgy Taher
Alaa El Anssary
Amr Orensa
Moderator: Lamaan Elgallal

6:45 PM

Furniture Design & Industry Talk

Sherif Abdel Hady

7:30 PM

‘Wanna be a circular designer. Principles, Tools and Strategies.'

Daniela Amandolese

8:15 PM

Jotun Discussion Panel: Color in Design 8

Rana Khadra
Raef fahmi
Sally Kamel
Mona Hussein
Dayana Kanjo
Nourhan Kanjo

Tuesday

27 FEB

Time clt

Name

3:30 PM

Accessible Design Approach (English)

Sherry Raef
Moderator: Venus el Rayes

5:00 PM

Lighting and The Well Being: A New Dimension (Arabic)

Dr.Dalal AlSharhan
George Micheal
Nedal Badr

5:45 PM

Adaptive Reuse & Interior Architecture Talk

Moaz Abo Zeid

6:45 PM

We design for designers or people (Arabic)

Amir Dorgham

7:30 PM

Design for social impact (Twasol) (English/Arabic)

Karim El Hayawan
Nehal Leheta
Yasmina Abou Youssef
Moderator: Ehab Mokhtar

8:15 PM

Silent Revolutions in Design (English)

Alberta Carandente

Wednesday

28 FEB

Time clt

Name

3:30 PM

Still Here, timeless captures of the urban life (English/Arabic)

Yehia El Alayly

4:15 PM

Visual Storytelling Talk (Arabic)

Mostafa Khafagi
Hicham Rahma
Hani Mahfouz
Moderator: Laman Gallal

5:00 PM

Less is more (Arabic)

Ahmed Keshta

6:45 PM

Hieroglyphs and Icons: A Select History of Information Design (Arabic)

Yasmine El Dorghamy

7:30 PM

Design for Resistance

Tarek Abd el Kawi
Ghalia
Kirsti itmari
Moderator: Laman

8:15 PM

Design for Impact Discussion Panel

Nesma el Shazli
Yasmeen Khamis
Hashem Rafaat
Salma Lakany
Reem Aboul Makarem
Shosha Kamel

Thursday

29 FEB

Time clt

Name

3:30 PM

Beyond the Classroom: Aligning Academic Knowledge with Market Needs (English/Arabic)

Ahmed Maher
Ahmed Moustafa

4:15

Design Entrepreneurship: How To Grow Your Design Business (English)

Heba El Gebaly

5:00

Design Entrepreneurship (Arabic)

Ehab Mokhtar

6:45

Design and storytelling (Arabic)

Mostafa Elnahawy

7:30

Beyond Good and Evil: GenAI as a Design Metamedium (English)

Ahmed El Antably

8:15

Designboom Panel: The role of media & private sector in enabling and promoting Good Design

Torsten Michael
Amy Mowafi
Moderator: Mohamed Radwan

Saturday

2 MARCH

Time clt

Name

4:00 PM

Bridging the gap between academia and industry (English)

Prof. Ahmed Elseragy
Dr. James Green
Pr. James Holness
Ehab Mokhtar
Karim El Hayawan
Soucha Mlihigue
Mohamed Emara
Abd Allah Tawakol
Moderator: Amr Orensa

TAMARA HOUSE AGENDA

FRIDAY, MARCH 1ST

Time clt

Name

2:30

Tamara Tour

Led by Al Ismailia & Alchemy Experience

3:30

Tamara Panel

Karim Shafei: CEO & Chairman Al Ismailia
Alchemy Experience Partners
Moderated by Mohamed Baitie

4:30

Architecture of Taste Panel

Hoda Sherif - Co Founder When We Eat
Sherif Tamim -Co Founder When We Eat
Wesam Masoud - Culinarian & Food Writer
Alchemy Experience Partners

Time clt

Name

Time clt

Name

Time clt

Name

Enabling Design Partner