Abu Dhabi has started a cool project that lets people from the United Arab Emirates and others living there learn how to make super nice jewelry and fancy watches with some of the best designers in the world.
The Design Commission Abu Dhabi, which is led by Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan is working with Tiffany & Co. To create Tiffany & Co. Design Residency Program.
This program wants to help local artists get better at what they do by combining Emirati styles, buildings and materials with the classic ways that Tiffany & Co. Has been making things for almost two hundred years and also with new ideas from around the world.
The Design Commission Abu Dhabi and Tiffany & Co. Are teaming up to make this happen. It is going to be a great opportunity for people to learn from Tiffany & Co. And The Design Commission Abu Dhabi.
Targeting emerging designers across the Emirates, the open application window began on August 17, 2026, and will remain active through September 20, 2026.
A panel of experts will select ten residents from the applicant pool. The residency is open to UAE citizens and expatriate residents of all nationalities, provided they possess foundational experience or formal knowledge in watchmaking or jewelry design.
Candidates must submit their digital applications alongside a portfolio of work via the official portal at dcad.ae/tiffanyandco-design-residency.
Scheduled to run from November 2026 through April 2027, the course consists of weekly Saturday modules hosted at a specialized studio space in Abu Dhabi.
Designed as an immersive educational journey, the curriculum combines hands-on technical workshops, material experimentation, and direct mentorship from Tiffany & Co. artisans. Participants will focus on transforming initial conceptual ideas into finished, production-ready contemporary pieces.
The six-month program will culminate in May 2027 with a public Capstone Exhibition showcasing the completed works across Abu Dhabi’s cultural landscape.
Following the final exhibition, the three top-performing designers will be selected for an exclusive three-month professional internship at Tiffany & Co.’s global headquarters in New York City from June to August 2027.
This initiative underscores DCAD’s long-term strategy to reinforce the UAE’s creative ecosystem. By establishing clear career pathways and facilitating direct access to global institutions, the program strengthens the emirate’s status as a regional destination for artistic excellence and creative industry growth.
