Surge’s Design, Dine, Make A Difference 2025 Gala returns to Dubai as one of the region’s most anticipated charity evenings, bringing architects, interior designers and sustainability leaders together at JW Marriott, Dubai Marina. Since its early editions in Dubai Marina hotels, the gala has grown into a key date on the regional design calendar, blending creative installations with fundraising for global safe water and sanitation projects. Each year introduces a new creative theme, and the 2025 edition focuses on “Broken Beautiful,” inviting designers to transform imperfection into powerful storytelling pieces that support real change. Throughout the night, guests move between statement design pieces, on stage moments and a carefully planned dinner service, creating a rhythm that feels both celebratory and purposeful. At its heart, the gala connects the design community directly to Surge for Water’s impactful projects around the world.
Theme and purpose of the 2025 gala
The 2025 theme “Broken Beautiful” asks participating designers to explore how broken materials, imperfect forms and visible repairs can still hold beauty and meaning. In practice, this means installations and objects that highlight cracks, seams and recovered fragments rather than hiding them, turning design into a metaphor for communities rebuilding their futures. At the same time, the gala celebrates sustainable design practices by encouraging re-use, responsible sourcing and storytelling around environmental impact. The evening also showcases Surge’s global work, with programme segments that highlight specific water, sanitation and hygiene initiatives funded through previous editions of the event. A significant portion of the evening’s proceeds supports Surge’s ongoing safe water, sanitation and hygiene projects in vulnerable communities.
Date, time and running order
This year’s Surge’s Design, Dine, Make A Difference 2025 Gala is scheduled for Thursday 27 November 2025 at JW Marriott, Dubai Marina, with doors opening from 7:00 pm. Official listings confirm a 7:00 pm start, and the programme typically runs through dinner, awards and fundraising segments toward around 12:00 am, matching the long gala format guests expect. As a result, attendees can plan an unhurried evening that allows time to explore the design pieces before the formal programme intensifies. It is sensible to arrive by about 6:30 pm to clear hotel arrival, valet or parking queues and be seated comfortably before the first stage moments begin. Because the evening stretches to around midnight, guests should plan next-day schedules and transport with the late finish in mind.
Tickets, pricing and what is included
Ticketing for the 2025 gala follows the pattern of previous years, with individual seats priced at approximately 800 AED per person on official platforms. That price typically includes access to the full programme, a three course dinner and free flowing hops and grapes, positioning the event alongside Dubai’s higher tier gala experiences. As in earlier editions, corporate sponsors and design studios often secure complete tables, while a limited number of individual seats remain available to independent guests and smaller teams. At the time of writing, official listings indicate that the 2025 edition is sold out, which underlines how quickly the design community commits to the evening every year. For planning purposes, expect to budget approximately 800 AED per guest, with any premium table or sponsorship options sitting above that level.
Venue atmosphere at JW Marriott Marina
The gala takes place in JW Marriott Marina’s ballroom spaces on Al Marsa Street, right in the heart of Dubai Marina’s waterfront cluster. This modern hotel setting allows the organisers to showcase large scale design installations while still maintaining the polished feeling expected from a black tie style evening. Additionally, the Marina backdrop gives guests easy access to pre and post gala spots along the waterfront, which many use for informal meet ups or late night conversations after the programme closes. Official guidance notes that the dress code is formal, with a touch of whimsical encouraged, so playful detailing, colour or accessories work well alongside classic eveningwear. Guests should plan for polished formal outfits with creative accents that fit the “Broken Beautiful” spirit.
Who the gala suits best
Because the evening combines design, fundraising and networking, it particularly suits professionals from architecture, interiors, lighting, furniture, sustainability and related sectors. However, socially conscious guests from other industries also feel at home, especially those who enjoy artful interiors, long dinners and purposeful conversations. The programme runs late and includes free flowing alcoholic beverages, so it naturally leans toward adults and older teens rather than very young children. When families consider attending together, they should factor in the midnight finish, the formal atmosphere and the busy ballroom environment. Overall, the event is best described as suitable for couples, groups of colleagues and solo professionals, but not ideal for small children.
Getting to JW Marriott Marina
JW Marriott Marina stands on 66 Al Marsa Street in Dubai Marina, a location that is straightforward to reach but often busy at peak evening hours. By car from most central Dubai districts, the simplest route follows Sheikh Zayed Road before you exit toward Dubai Marina and then continue along Al Marsa Street to the hotel entrance. For guests arriving from Abu Dhabi or other western emirates, the drive along E11 usually takes around one and a half to two hours depending on traffic, so leaving before the afternoon peak is wise. Meanwhile, Sharjah and Ajman residents heading south should allow extra buffer time to clear Deira and the central interchanges before approaching the Marina. Parking capacity is limited in the Marina cluster, so guests should consider valet services, arrive early or use taxis and metro where possible.
Traffic, parking and arrival timing
Dubai Marina is one of the city’s most traffic dense districts on Thursday evenings, as many residents begin their weekend with dinners and waterfront plans. As a result, the stretch between 6:00 pm and 8:30 pm often sees slow moving traffic along Al Marsa Street and surrounding routes, especially near the junctions connecting to Sheikh Zayed Road. The hotel usually offers valet and on site parking, yet these facilities can fill quickly when large events and regular hotel guests overlap. Because of that, arriving earlier in the evening helps avoid long queues both at valet and at the lifts serving the ballroom level. Drivers should factor in at least an extra 20 to 30 minutes beyond normal navigation apps to account for marina congestion and parking delays.
Weather outlook for the gala and the weekend
The forecast for Thursday 27 November in Dubai currently shows hazy sunshine during the day with a high close to 29 degrees Celsius and a nighttime low around 20 degrees, which is comfortable for arrivals and departures. On Friday 28 November and Saturday 29 November, the pattern remains similar, with hazy sun, highs in the high twenties and lows hovering near the upper teens, and no significant rain or sandstorm activity expected. Therefore, guests can safely plan on dry pavements, clear hotel access roads and no mud around the Marina or the hotel entrance. Light eveningwear works well, though a thin shawl or jacket is helpful if you plan to step outside near the water later at night, where the breeze can feel cooler after midnight. Because the event is indoors and fully air conditioned, the main comfort consideration is bringing a light extra layer in case you feel cool inside the ballroom rather than any concern about outdoor weather extremes.
Planning your evening and extending the experience
Many guests treat the gala as a full evening out rather than only a seated dinner, arriving early to reconnect with colleagues near the lobby or lounge before moving into the main space. After the formal programme, the wider Marina offers cafes and late night spots where conversations can continue, especially for design teams who only occasionally gather in person. Visitors from Abu Dhabi or Ras Al Khaimah may wish to pair the gala with an overnight stay either at JW Marriott Marina itself or at nearby hotels, which reduces late night driving and allows a relaxed departure the next morning. Those coming from Sharjah or Ajman might prefer to use taxis or ride hailing services rather than bringing a car into the most congested parts of the Marina, particularly if they plan to enjoy the free flowing hops and grapes. If you intend to drive back to another emirate the same night, leaving the Marina promptly after the programme ends will make the journey smoother and safer.
Practical warnings, tips and last checks
For this late November date, expect dry, warm afternoons and comfortably mild evenings, so breathable formal fabrics and comfortable dress shoes are the smartest choices, with a light wrap or blazer for any time spent outside at the Marina. Traffic around Dubai Marina is heaviest between early evening and mid evening on Thursdays, so arriving well before 7:00 pm and using valet, metro to DMCC station, tram or taxis will usually reduce stress compared with driving in at the last minute. Ticket prices, timings and programme details can still shift, so any figures mentioned here, including the approximate 800 AED per person guideline, should be treated as approximately rather than fixed at the time you read this. Because the gala traditionally sells out and official listings already show strong demand, joining any waitlist or confirming your seat as early as possible is the single most important planning step. According to recent notes shared by editors at www.few.ae, this gala has become a reference point for how Dubai’s design community can celebrate creativity and make a measurable difference at the same time, which makes careful advance planning especially worthwhile.
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