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Art Dubai is set to return this week with a special anniversary edition, as one of the Middle East’s leading art fairs marks its 20th year by bringing together galleries, artists and cultural institutions from around the world.
Taking place at Madinat Jumeirah from May 15 to 17, with a VIP preview on May 14, the fair is expected to roll out an expanded program of exhibitions, performances, screenings and large-scale installations while spotlighting both regional and international voices.
Founded two decades ago, Art Dubai has grown into an annual platform for artists, galleries and collectors, helping to shape conversations around modern and contemporary art across the region.
This year’s special edition will feature more than 75 presentations from commercial galleries, institutional participants, and cultural partners, reflecting what organizers describe as a collaborative approach to cultural programming.
According to organizers, the fair will showcase new commissions, exhibitions, and site-responsive works created in partnership with some of the UAE’s leading cultural institutions and galleries.
Benedetta Ghione, executive director of Art Dubai Group, said the fair had developed beyond a conventional marketplace into an international platform for the region’s cultural scene. She described this year’s edition as a reflection of the resilience of the UAE’s arts sector and the importance of collaboration.
“Art Dubai’s story is Dubai’s story,” Ghione said, adding that the fair had grown together with the city over the years.
Among the key highlights is Made Forward, a major presentation from the Dubai Collection, described as the city’s first institutional collection of modern and contemporary art.
The fair will also host the 20th edition of its flagship Global Art Forum, commissioned by Shumon Basar, alongside an exhibition of modern Arab art organized by the Barjeel Art Foundation.
A performance-focused program developed with the Sharjah Art Foundation and a moving-image series co-curated with Alserkal Avenue are also expected to take center stage, with screenings planned across both venues.
Large-scale artworks and installations will be integrated throughout the site, featuring works by artists including Khalid Al Banna, Hashel Al Lamki, Kevork Murad, Yaw Owusu, Neda Razavipour, Rashid Bin Shabib, Ahmed Bin Shabib and Surdashan Shetty.
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The public program will begin on May 15, with opening hours running into the evening on Friday and Saturday. Sunday will close out the fair with shorter daytime access, while VIP visitors will be given preview hours on both Thursday and Sunday.
Dunja Gottweis, director of Art Dubai Fair, said the event would bring together galleries from nearly 20 countries, balancing strong regional representation with international participation.
The program will also include partnerships with institutions such as Art Jameel, National Pavilion UAE–La Biennale di Venezia, the Ministry of Culture and House of Arts, alongside daily talks, live activations and public events spread across the venue.
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