An art lover’s guide to Dubai

Busting the long-held myth that Dubai largely caters to those seeking luxury shopping, this handbook puts the focus on the city’s vibrant art and culture landscape

Once a blank canvas, Dubai has evolved into a city that continually reinvents itself with a strong commitment to modern and avant-garde design. From innovative—almost futuristic—urban planning and architecture to becoming a coveted luxury destination, the city offers much more than just a shopping spree. 

In recent years, the city's vibrant community has become a hotbed for artistic expression. This new wave of creativity is characterised by a synthesis of traditional elements with contemporary innovations, allowing artists to explore and exhibit both.

This renaissance of sorts—largely due to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region's new immigration laws implemented last year—attracts an array of individuals from across the globe, making Dubai a hub for artists and art enthusiasts who appreciate the coming together of the past and present through artistic experiments and expressions.

We put together a compendium of what you shouldn’t miss on your trip to Dubai, if you’re on the lookout to fuel your creativity.

Alserkal Avenue 

Established in 2008, Alserkal Avenue was conceived in order to foster cultural expression in Dubai. Spread across 500,000 square feet in the Al Quoz industrial area, it serves as a nucleus for over 70 contemporary art galleries, visual and performing arts organisations, designers, local businesses, and community spaces. It is among the region’s foremost destinations for contemporary art, and through its comprehensive year-round programming, offers a range of cultural experiences to local, regional, and international audiences.

Why you should check out Alserkal Avenue

Carbon 12 Gallery
Carbon 12 Gallery showcases globally renowned artists while actively engaging with the contemporary art scene in the United Arab Emirates. With  six to eight exhibitions held annually, the gallery promotes both established and emerging talents, complemented by publications and talks. Located in Al Quoz, Carbon 12 mirrors the playful and organic creative process of its community.

Green Art Gallery
As a pioneering contemporary art gallery in the Middle East, Green Art Gallery—led by Yasmin Atassi—has played an important role in presenting renowned modern masters from the region. Today, it represents a diverse mix of artists who hail from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, showcasing rigorous, idea-driven practices that reflect Dubai's rich cultural tapestry.

The Edit
Founded in 2018 within Dubai's Alserkal Avenue, The Edit is a thoughtfully curated concept space under the direction of Rumana Nazim. Offering a selection of women's fashion—including jewellery and accessories along with home-ware and beauty products—it prioritises women-founded brands. The space also houses an organic matcha bar and hosts occasional art exhibitions as well as events around empowerment and health/wellness.

Oo La Lab
Built on the premise of allowing its customers to design their own unique scents, this fragrance lab offers a range of services, including personalised fragrance consultations and private workshops. Oo La Lab also has fragrance-related products such as oils and room sprays on its roster.

Ganache Chocolatier

For fans of silky-smooth ganache and nut-flavoured chocolate bites, this homegrown chocolate concept and retail boutique located in Warehouse 82 is a must-visit. Here, you don’t just observe and experience the craft of chocolate-making but can also sip on the homemade signature hot chocolate from the café. The chocolate collection features over 100 flavours, with Zaatar Praline, Pretzel Marshmallow, and classic nutty pralines emerging as favourites.

Alserkal.online

AYA Universe

If you're seeking an immersive, multi-sensory experience, AYA Universe at Wafi City Mall in the heart of Dubai is where you should head. Spread across a massive 40,000 square feet, this futuristic, space-themed entertainment park blends technology and entertainment

Within its interactive expanse are 12 uniquely themed zones—Aurora, The Source, Drift, Outland, The Pool, The River, The Falls, Celestia, Flora, Tides, Luna, and Harmonia—each transporting you to breathtakingly beautiful worlds.

In Aurora, every movement creates a vibrant and dynamic artwork. Next, witness a dazzling exhibition of colourful LED pools in the chamber of the Source. Explore the lush green landscapes of Drift and navigate through the river in the Pool. Next, step into the world of Outland to meet new people and avatars, gaze at the stars in Cosmos, and wander through the bioluminescent garden of Flora. The mirror-lined hall of Tides, adorned with LED totems and a central monolith, is almost hypnotic. Finally, prepare to be amazed by the three-minute robotic light show in the mirrored, infinite expanse of the Harmonia.

Aya-universe.com

Jameel Arts Centre

Located near the Jaddaf Waterfront, the Jameel Arts Centre serves as a hub for contemporary art, cultural exchange, and education bringing artists and thinkers together. The facility encompasses three levels of galleries, an accessible research centre and library, designated spaces for projects and events, a rooftop terrace tailored for installations and film screenings, along with a restaurant, a shop, and an espresso bar.

The Jameel Library is a research centre for contemporary arts, particularly devoted to exploring the cultural histories of the Gulf and its adjacent regions. An active and dynamic learning platform, it is home to public programmes and reading groups. Free and open to all, the library welcomes students, artists, researchers, writers, and those with a curious bent of mind. The expanding multimedia library comprises books, journals, catalogues, students’ theses, and artists' files across English, Arabic, and other languages.

The centre engages with the community through educational initiatives beginning at the primary level continuing through to the postgraduate level, complemented by talks, workshops, performances, screenings, as well as special activities for schools and families. 

Meanwhile, THE ESSENTIAL is a fresh series of discussions held at the Jameel Arts Centre, led by Shumon Basar. Through this initiative, distinguished guests delve into the fundamentals of their work, thought processes, and their journeys. They highlight influential books, films, albums, interviews, essays, and other elements that played a formative role in shaping their respective paths, enabling future generations to make their own discoveries.

Jameelartscentre.org

Theatre of Digital Art (ToDA)

The Theatre of Digital Art (ToDA) is a fully immersive art, education, and  multimedia entertainment hub. It offers a fresh perspective on both historic masterpieces and contemporary art. The exhibition encourages visitors to engage with their favourite artist's work through a 360-degree projection of images, transforming the space into a digital wonderland.

Through a blend of cutting-edge technologies and compelling storytelling, ToDA offers interactive, sensorial experiences in art, culture, and science. 

The Virtual Reality (VR) segment at ToDA integrates 3D, Virtual Reality, and Augmented Reality to offer several inspiring, entertaining, and educational activities, including interactive painting masterclasses that bring renowned artworks to life to learning about unique artifacts.

ToDA not only features regular exhibits but also hosts events such as painting sessions, live concerts, and Jazz nights.

Toda.ae

Bayt AlMamzar 

In Arabic, "Bait Yado" translates to "grandmother’s house," and this is exactly what Emirati brothers Khalid and Gaith Abdulla used to refer to their home. Located in the Al Mamzar neighbourhood of Dubai, it underwent a transformation in 2018 when they turned their grandmother’s home into a centre for art and culture, renaming it as Bayt AlMamzar. It is now home to local artists who can rent exhibition space at affordable prices. 

Inaugurated in November 2021, the single-storeyed building functions as a versatile space that combines a gallery, artist studio, a multi-use co-working area for public programmes, and a library. Visitors can look forward to engaging in events, such as exhibitions, talks, screenings, dinners, and unique installations—one notable example being a living set created with plants and flowers to celebrate Earth Day in collaboration with The Giving Movement (@thegivingmovement). The space also envisions hosting workshops that allow individuals to experiment with diverse materials, as well as organising gastronomic experiences and food and art pop-ups, with chefs curating special menus.

Baytalmamzar.org

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