Dubai Global Connect

What Dubai Global Connect does

Dubai Global Connect (DGC) is a B2B wholesale trade centre and marketplace platform headquartered in Dubai South, adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport and Jebel Ali Port. It serves international brands, manufacturers, fabric and textile suppliers, garment makers, food suppliers, and home/furniture brands seeking year-round access to buyers from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. DGC operates three industry verticals — Fashion, Food, and Home & Furniture — through modular permanent showrooms, temporary exhibition space for recurring market weeks and events, and an omnichannel B2B digital e-commerce platform with 3D virtual exploration. The facility was designed by Studio FUKSAS, and Phase 1 of a planned 360,000 sqm built-up area is expected to complete in 2025, with full completion targeted for 2026.

DGC is an initiative of the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), the sovereign wealth fund of the Government of Dubai, and operates as a private economic free zone entity (Dubai Global Connect DWC-LLC). The revenue model combines recurring subscription-based showroom rental for tenants, professional services revenue from event and exhibition hosting, and managed services revenue from the Smart Service Centre — a one-stop ecosystem providing company licensing, banking, accounting, legal, HR, warehousing, shipping, office space, and marketing services through vetted third-party providers. DGC drives buyer traffic through strategic partnerships with trade associations (International Apparel Federation, CMAI, Middle East Fashion Council, BGMEA), event producers (Grovara), and complementary market operators (Dallas Market Center), and through participation in external industry events (Dhaka Apparel Summit) and recurring in-house Market Weeks.

The GTM motion is enterprise-focused, with named tenants spanning Turkish textiles (Sanko Textile), Brazilian high-end décor (Capra Gallery), Pakistani sustainable furniture (YOCA), UAE sustainable fabrics (Ethical Elements), and visiting multinational brand delegations (Nestlé MENA, USDA-supported US brands). At full buildout, DGC targets hosting 1,600 companies and contributing over AED 60 billion in annual trade volume to Dubai's economy. Leadership comprises Chairman Douraid Zaghouani, Head of Business Development Paul Boots, Head of Fashion Jessica Bazire, and Home category specialist Sapna Sharma, supported by a finance function.

Name

Dubai Global Connect

Legal name

Dubai Global Connect DWC-LLC

Website

https://dubaiglobalconnect.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dubai Global Connect (DGC) is a B2B wholesale trade centre and marketplace in Dubai South serving international Fashion, Food, and Home brands and buyers through permanent showrooms, temporary exhibition space, and a digital e-commerce platform. It is an initiative of the Investment Corporation of Dubai.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Trade Market Centre / B2B Trade Marketplace

NAICS

Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers (4251), Furniture Merchant Wholesalers (42321), Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers (423220)

SIC

Wholesale-Furniture & Home Furnishings (5020)

akta.pro primary industry

Cross-border Import/Export Generalist Marketplaces (CRAFAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Partner Network & Supplier Onboarding/Connectivity Platforms (Mapping, Certification, QA) (THALAJAO), Apparel & Textile Wholesale Marketplaces (CRAFAHAI), Furniture (Residential & Commercial) Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAFAA)

Keywords

• Wholesale trade centre
• B2B market platform
• Permanent showroom rental
• Fashion food home tradeshows
• Trade business services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Showroom Rental: DGC generates revenue through renting modular, flexible showroom spaces to brands, manufacturers, and suppliers in the Fashion, Food, and Home industries. Spaces can be customized and designed according to tenant brand requirements.
2. Event and Exhibition Services: Revenue from hosting market weeks, exhibitions, and industry events in temporary exhibition spaces adjacent to permanent showrooms. Includes venue rental and event management services.
3. Smart Service Centre: Business support services including company licensing, showroom fit-out, HR support, banking, accounting, legal services, warehousing, shipping, regulatory affairs, office rental, and marketing services - all provided through vetted third-party partners.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dubai Global Connect operates an international year-round wholesale trade market centre serving the Fashion, Food, and Home & Furniture industries from a 360,000 sqm facility in Dubai South. Tenants lease modular permanent showrooms or take space during temporary market weeks, complemented by a digital B2B e-commerce platform providing 24/7 product visibility to global buyers. A Smart Service Centre bundles licensing, banking, HR, legal, warehousing, shipping, and marketing services through vetted partners so brands can establish Middle East operations quickly.

Product overview

Dubai Global Connect (DGC) operates as a B2B wholesale marketplace platform combining physical permanent showrooms with a digital e-commerce platform. The core offering consists of modular permanent showroom spaces across three industry verticals (Fashion, Food, and Home) complemented by temporary exhibition spaces for market weeks and events. The Smart Service Centre provides administrative support including licensing, banking, accounting, legal, office space, and logistics services. Key branded spaces include the Fashion Trade Centre, International Fashion Sourcing Centre, Food Market, Interiors & Design Centre, Lighting Suites, and Home Innovation Centre.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Permanent Showrooms Year-round, modular showroom spaces available to brands, manufacturers, and suppliers in the Fashion, Food, and Home industries. Spaces feature multiple layout options and can be customized to tenant brand requirements. Targeted at international brands seeking a permanent Middle East trade presence.
• Events, Market Weeks and Exhibitions Temporary exhibition space and managed Market Weeks for the Fashion, Food, and Home industries. Hosts hundreds of additional brands beyond permanent showrooms through events such as Grovara Food Week, providing venue rental and event management services to trade associations and brand communities.
• Digital B2B Platform Omnichannel B2B e-commerce platform enabling sellers to showcase products online and buyers to place orders, view special promotions, and access curated collections digitally. Complements the physical showroom experience with 24/7 product visibility.
• Smart Service Centre One-stop business support ecosystem for tenants, providing company licensing, showroom fit-out, HR, banking, accounting, legal services, warehousing, shipping, regulatory affairs, office rental, and marketing services delivered through vetted third-party partners.
• Office Space Flexible office workspace options for tenants, including flexi-desks, serviced desks, co-working spaces, and custom-designed office areas within the DGC facility.
• Licensing and Company Formation End-to-end company establishment service enabling international companies to register as new L.L.C. or branch offices in Dubai's economic free zone with 100% foreign ownership and streamlined administrative support.
• Fashion Trade Centre Fashion industry vertical within DGC providing permanent showroom space for curated fashion and apparel brands to showcase collections year-round, complemented by event spaces for trade fairs and product launches.
• International Fashion Sourcing Centre Year-round sourcing space within DGC's fashion vertical for garment manufacturers, fabric and textile suppliers, and accessories providers, with dedicated event areas for industry conferences and networking.
• Food Market International Food vertical at DGC serving as the main sourcing, innovation, and marketing centre for branded food products targeting the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Designed to function as a regional Food Innovation Hub.
• Interiors and Design Centre Home and furniture industry vertical within DGC featuring design houses, furniture brands, home fragrance, dining, décor, and home furnishings buyers from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
• Lighting Suites Curated high-end lighting category within the Home vertical showcasing chandeliers, floor lamps, table lamps, and accent lighting from global brands for designers, retailers, hotels, and project developers.
• Home Innovation Centre Flexible event space within the Home vertical hosting international market weeks, shows, and events serving the home industry on a year-round basis.
• Market Services (Managed Business Support) Comprehensive managed business support services delivered through vetted partners covering company licensing, showroom fit-out, HR, banking, accounting, legal, warehousing, shipping, regulatory affairs, marketing, and event venues, enabling tenants to establish and scale operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dubai ranks 11th on World Bank's Ease of Doing Business
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Dubai SouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDubai South is a 145 sq. km. city project launched in 2006, home to Al Maktoum International Airport and the Expo 2020 site. DGC is located in Dubai South, benefiting from its economic platform supporting diverse businesses and proximity to major transport infrastructure.
• Dallas Market CenterstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership between major market center operators to share best practices and potentially drive cross-market buyer and seller engagement between Dallas and Dubai markets.
• Dubai Chamber of CommercestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Dubai Chamber to support business networking and trade facilitation for DGC tenants and visitors.
• International Apparel Federation (IAF)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association partnership to support global fashion industry connections and trade facilitation.
• CMAI (Chamber for Advancement of Medical Information)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner association supporting trade connections, particularly for the fashion and apparel industry.
• Middle East Fashion CouncilstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association partnership supporting fashion industry events, networking, and trade development in the Middle East region.
• GrovarastrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Grovara to host food-focused events like Grovara Food Week, bringing 15 US and Mexico-based brands to DGC for buyer-sellers connections. Event inaugurated by H.E. Luis Alfonso de Alba, Mexican Ambassador to the UAE.
• Brand BGMEAstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association for event participation at Dhaka Apparel Summit during Made In Bangladesh Week. DGC Head of Fashion spoke on logistics and infrastructure panel.
• YOCA (Young Artist Collective)minorOthersPakistani furniture brand showcasing products at DGC Visitor Centre, featuring sustainable design using traditional ralli art techniques with waste rosewood materials.
• Capra GalleryminorOthersBrazilian home décor brand specializing in precious stones, opened its first showroom outside Brazil at DGC.
• Sanko TextileminorOthersLeading Turkish fabric and yarn supplier with over 120 years of experience, specializing in high-quality natural fiber fabrics. Has fully integrated mill from fiber to fabric with strong sustainability focus.
• Ethical ElementsminorOthersUAE-based sustainable design hub specializing in eco-friendly and sustainable fabrics and packaging, showcasing at DGC Visitor Centre.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Gulfood: The world's largest annual food and beverage trade exhibition held in Dubai. Directly competes with DGC's Food vertical for international F&B brand participation and buyer attendance in the Middle East.
• Dubai Design District (d3): Dubai-based creative industry hub focused on design, fashion, and luxury. Adjacent peer serving overlapping brand and designer communities within the same Dubai ecosystem.

Direct peers

• INDEX Dubai: Leading Middle East interior design and furniture trade exhibition held in Dubai. Competes directly with DGC's Home and design verticals for regional buyer attention and brand participation.
• Dallas Market Center: Major US wholesale trade center for fashion, home, and gift industries. DGC's explicit strategic partner for cross-market buyer/seller engagement, making it the most directly comparable operator in terms of multi-vertical B2B marketplace model.
• Salone del Mobile (Milan Design Week): World's leading furniture and design trade fair held annually in Milan. Direct competitor for DGC's Home and furniture verticals, with deep buyer mindshare in the high-end furniture market that DGC's Interiors & Design Centre targets.
• Pure London: UK-based fashion trade show serving womenswear, menswear, and accessories buyers. Comparable as a multi-vertical fashion trade event competing for international apparel brand participation.
• Maison&Objet: Paris-based premier trade show for home, decoration, and design. Direct competitor for DGC's Home vertical, attracting the same international design buyers and brands that DGC targets.

Broad incumbents

• Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC): Operates a network of global trade fairs and sourcing platforms across multiple industries including fashion, home, and gifts. Comparable as an established Asia-based trade infrastructure operator competing for international wholesale buyer attention.
• Ambiente (Messe Frankfurt): Major international consumer goods trade fair covering home, dining, and gift products. Established global incumbent competing with DGC's Home vertical for international wholesale buyers and brand participation.
• Alibaba.com: Global B2B e-commerce marketplace connecting international buyers and suppliers across virtually all consumer categories. Comparable as the dominant digital B2B marketplace against which DGC's digital platform must compete.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dubai-global-connect

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dubai Global Connect