The exhibition will take place from 19 to 23 November.
Mark your calendars because the Abu Dhabi Art Fair is returning with a bang. This highly anticipated annual art fair is swinging open its doors once again for its 17th edition, bringing the curtain down on a year-round arts extravaganza. Brace yourselves for an inspiring showcase of artworks from across the globe – taking place in the capital.
Scheduled to take place from 19 to 23 November at Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi Art Fair promises an immersive experience that welcomes a record roster of galleries and new focus sectors that spotlight Nigeria, the Gulf region and Türkiye.
Gathering more than 140 galleries from 52 cities and 37 countries, under the esteemed patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the fair continues to expand its global footprint. First-time participants arrive from Algeria, Senegal, the Netherlands, Peru and Tanzania, reflecting a broadened scope and growing international interest.
Since its launch in 2009, Abu Dhabi Art has evolved into the region’s largest fair, attracting leading names such as Pace, Richard Saltoun Gallery, Mennour, Hanart TZ Gallery and ATHR. This year welcomes debut exhibitors including Loft Art Gallery, RGR, Pedro Cera and EQTNA Rare Books.
Aldar Hall at Manarat Al Saadiyat
Aldar returns as a leading partner and unveils Aldar Hall, a newly repurposed space at the entrance to Manarat Al Saadiyat, designed to support the fair’s rapid expansion. The hall will host galleries in the Gulf Focus section alongside exhibitors from West Asia and North Africa, with two new participants from West Africa. Notable first-time exhibitors include Loft Art Gallery and Comptoir de Mines Galerie from Morocco, Yosr Ben Ammar Gallery from Tunisia, OH GALLERY from Senegal and Galerie Farah Fakhri from the Ivory Coast.
Modern Türkiye
Curated by Doris Benhalegua Karako, the section presents rarely seen works by modern masters. Participants include DG Art Gallery and Projects with works by Fahrelnissa Zeid, Art On Istanbul Gallery spotlighting Burhan Doğançay, and BüroSarigedik presenting Gülsün Karamustafa and Cengiz Çekil.
Nigeria Spotlight
Developed with the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, this section champions seven pioneering Nigerian galleries and forms part of the Nigeria Everywhere initiative. Expect narrative-driven works across mixed media, figurative painting and conceptual practices from SOTO Gallery, AMG Projects, returning exhibitor kó, O’DA Gallery, 1897 Gallery, Windsor Gallery, Ishara Gallery, and a special project with MADhouse by Tikera Africa.
The Gulf Region
A showcase of leading Khaleeji artists with Gallery Isabelle presenting Hassan Sharif, Mohammed Kazem and Alia Zaal, Wusum Gallery presenting Tarek Darwish, Hunna Art presenting Alymamah Rashed, Joud Fahmy and Zayn Qahtani, SAPAR Contemporary presenting Rashid Al-Khalifa, Iris Projects presenting Nasser Al Salem, Juma Al Haj and Shamsa Al Omaira, Hafez Gallery presenting Sami Al Marzoogi, Sara Alabdali and Raeda Ashour, and Albareh Art Gallery presenting Nasser Al Yousif.
H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, stated: “The upcoming edition of Abu Dhabi Art Fair promises to be the most ambitious yet, featuring a record number of galleries from around the world. Over the years, the fair has evolved into the region’s most influential platform for art and ideas, a cultural moment where the UAE’s pioneering spirit engages with the global art community. Each edition advances our mission to foster Abu Dhabi’s vibrant creative ecosystem, connecting artists, collectors, and audiences in a dialogue that transcends borders, encourages meaningful exchange, and sparks new possibilities.”
Entry to Abu Dhabi Art Fair is completely free, so mark your calendars because it’s going to be an absolute blast.
GO: Visit www.abudhabiart.ae for more information.