Art Dubai returns with a global spotlight on the Gulf
From digital dreams to beachfront feasts, Dubai’s culture scene is serving big energy and even bigger inspiration.
Welcome back to Al-Monitor Dubai.
Dubai is gearing up for one of the most dynamic weeks on its cultural calendar. From the 18th edition of Art Dubai to Alserkal Avenue Art Week and the 11th edition of World Art Dubai, the city is bursting with energy. Add to that a wave of new gallery openings, exhibitions and cultural happenings, and the Gulf metropolis is alive like no other time of the year.
If you want to receive this newsletter or our other new weekly City Pulse newsletters — for Doha, Istanbul and Riyadh — sign up here.
Happy reading,
Rebecca
P.S. Have feedback or tips on Dubai's culture scene? Send them my way at contactus@al-monitor.com.
1. Leading the week: Art Dubai returns for its 18th edition
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president, prime minister and ruler of Dubai, touring Art Dubai in 2024 (Courtesy of Art Dubai)
Since its launch in 2007, Art Dubai has played a pivotal role in shaping the Gulf’s contemporary art scene, evolving into a global platform that connects artists, galleries and cultural leaders from the Middle East, Africa, West and South Asia, Europe and the Americas.
Held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and in partnership with private investment firm A.R.M. Holding, this year’s edition features a vibrant, multicultural program with 120 galleries from around the world. Four curated sections spotlight modern, contemporary and digital art, including the return of “Bawwaba” (“Gateway” in Arabic), curated by Mirjam Varadinis, which presents 10 solo exhibitions exploring themes of migration, displacement and new ways of living.
The fair’s digital section, curated by Gonzalo Herrero Delicado, reflects on the growing influence of AI and immersive technology in art. Highlights include installations by Ouchhh Studio, Breakfast and Hybrid Xperience, alongside 22 digital platforms from Dubai and beyond.
Major commissions this year include works by Kuwaiti artist Alymamah Rashed, Emirati artist Mohammed Kazem, Swedish artist Jacob Dahlgren, and the regional debut of Andy Warhol’s iconic BMW Art Car. The fair also welcomes 30 first-time exhibitors, including international names like Richard Saltoun, RGR, Cristina Guerra and Bortolami.
Artistic director Pablo del Val told Al-Monitor that the fair reflects today’s global climate: “There’s a lot of escapism and surrealism and flat geometry” — visual strategies that offer a temporary escape from the socio-political and environmental turbulence of our time.
Dates: April 18-20
Location: Madinat Jumeirah, Al Sufouh 1, Dubai
Find more here.
2. Word on the street: Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab
An interior view of Iliana, a beachfront Greek restaurant in Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab. (Courtesy of Marsa Al Arab)
Jumeirah’s latest luxury resort, which opened last month, is already making waves on Dubai’s hospitality scene. Designed by renowned architect Shaun Killa in the sleek shape of a superyacht, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab features 12 new restaurants offering everything from Greek and Japanese to Italian and Indian cuisine.
Ideally situated on a prime peninsula next to the iconic Burj Al Arab, this stylish new addition completes Jumeirah’s nautical-themed trio, alongside the Burj and Jumeirah Beach Hotel. With its beachside setting, refined design and world-class dining, it’s a destination made for a leisurely, indulgent escape.
Location: Jumeirah Street, Umm Suqeim 3, Dubai
Find more here.
3. Dubai diary
Mays Al Moosawi’s “Communication with My Inner Self” (2025) (Courtesy of the artist and Emergeast)
• A one-night exhibition by Mays Al Moosawi
For one night only on April 15, Omani artist Mays Al Moosawi will present her latest body of work in a private residency in Dubai’s Jumeirah 2. Presented by the online platform Emergeast, the exhibition features alluring abstract figurative paintings that reflect the artist’s ongoing journey of self-discovery. Deeply personal and emotionally resonant, the works explore themes of identity, vulnerability and the challenges many women face when navigating cultural expectations and interpersonal struggles in relationships.
Date: April 15
Location: Jumeirah 2
Find more information here.
• World Art Dubai set to return for 11th edition
Running concurrently with Art Dubai, World Art Dubai (WAD) returns to the World Trade Center in downtown Dubai, showcasing over 400 artists and galleries from more than 65 countries. Now in its 11th edition, the fair is known for its accessible price points and focus on emerging artists. This year’s highlights include new international pavilions featuring artists from Zimbabwe, Mongolia, Australia and Estonia, among others. The program also features a VIP preview on April 16, a hosted buyer initiative, a dedicated textile art hub and a public art initiative that extends beyond the exhibition halls.
Dates: April 17-20
Location: Dubai World Trade Center, downtown Dubai
Find more information here.
• Christie’s brings auction highlights to Dubai
Christie’s is currently showcasing a selection of highlights at its Dubai space in the Dubai International Financial Center, offering a preview of works from its upcoming global auctions.
The presentation includes pieces from the biannual Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds Including Rugs and Carpets sale, taking place live in London on May 1, as well as the Modern and Contemporary Middle East Art online sale, running from April 24 to May 8. Also on view are three standout works from Leonard & Louise Riggio: Collected Works sale, a single-owner evening auction in New York this May, featuring major names including Pablo Picasso and Piet Mondrian. Among the regional highlights on display in Dubai are works by Palestinian artist Samia Halaby, Lebanese painter Nabil Nahas and Saudi artist Ahmed Mater, among others.
Dates: April 10-18
Location: Christie’s Dubai, DIFC, Gate Village, Building 3
Find more information here.
4. Book of the week: “+971: 50 Emirati Creatives Shaping the UAE”
Edited by Myrna Ayad and published by Rizzoli, this new book spotlights the creative scene of the United Arab Emirates. Featuring 50 creatives working across design, art, film, architecture, performing and visual arts, music and writing, the book offers a comprehensive look at the country’s cultural landscape. Launched during Art Dubai and set to be released in September this year, the volume traces the evolution of the UAE’s creative sector since the nation’s founding in 1971, highlighting how its growth is deeply rooted in cultural heritage and national values. The featured talents come from across all seven Emirates, reflecting the innovation and artistic vitality shaping the UAE today.
5. View from Dubai
J.K. Bruce-Vanderpuije. Elder Dempster Agency Line (1960) (Courtesy of Deo Gratias Studio and Efie Gallery)
In the Art Dubai booth of Dubai-based Efie Gallery, works by the late renowned Ghanaian photographer J.K. Bruce-Vanderpuije (1899-1989) will be on show. Over the course of his 70-year career, he eloquently captured the West African nation during a period when there were very few photographers working in Ghana. He is known for his depictions of everyday life, political events that shaped the nation and intimate views of a country going through the throes of colonial independence to assert its own authentic narrative.
6. By the numbers
• This year, Art Dubai will present over 500 international and regional artists, with its program drawn from over 65 cities and 40 countries.
• In 2024, World Art Dubai drew around 11,000 visitors to the fair. This year the fair expects to attract around 15,000 visitors.