Art Dubai 2025 with NASO
In this context, how does this edition of Art Dubai serve as a strategic vehicle for preserving cultural relevance and leadership amid the shifting tides of regional influence?
The Middle East’s foremost art fair made its anticipated return to Dubai this past week, showcasing 120 galleries representing nearly 70 cities across the globe. Now in its 18th edition, Art Dubai continues to fortify the city’s standing as a leading cultural nexus within the region. In an era marked by a dynamic reconfiguration of the cultural landscape—most notably with Riyadh's accelerated rise as a contender for regional artistic leadership—Dubai and the UAE maintain a distinctive and historically embedded role in shaping the narrative. In this context, how does this edition of Art Dubai serve as a strategic vehicle for preserving cultural relevance and leadership amid the shifting tides of regional influence?
This evolution has been achieved through a fundamental reimagining of the fair’s foundational structure. Art Dubai has moved beyond its origins as a predominantly commercial platform to emerge as a vital cultural catalyst. It now integrates exhibitions, curated commissions, and discursive programming with a broader, city-wide energy rooted in experimentation, mobility, and regional engagement. Crucially, Art Dubai operates in concert with other major cultural milestones in the UAE, including the Sharjah Biennial—this year’s edition, To Carry, runs through June 15—and the dynamic activations of Alserkal Avenue’s Art Week, reinforcing the nation's collective momentum as a leading force in the Middle Eastern art ecosystem.
This year, the fair was structured around four distinct sections: Art Dubai Contemporary—the fair’s central axis—alongside Bawwaba, Art Dubai Modern, and Art Dubai Digital. Taken individually, each segment stood confidently on its own, offering a coherent and compelling curatorial experience. However, the dialogue between these sections felt somewhat disjointed, lacking an organic continuity that might have unified the whole. When such a division is inherently uneven, it becomes challenging—if not impossible—to achieve a seamless curatorial flow across the entire fair. One voice inevitably asserts itself more dominantly, shaping the rhythm and reception of the others. Moving forward, a more calibrated equilibrium between these components could help foster a more harmonious and integrated experience in future editions of the fair.
The curated gallery sections at the fair present a sweeping overview of a dynamic art world in flux. Art Dubai Contemporary fosters cross-cultural exchange and emerging perspectives; Bawwaba spotlights solo presentations from the Global South; Art Dubai Modern reexamines post-war narratives and the residual impact of Cold War-era artistic dialogues; while Art Dubai Digital challenges perceptual boundaries through AI, blockchain, and immersive media. Notably, the digital component of the fair felt particularly dominant, underscoring a global pivot toward AI and technological integration in creative practices. While this emphasis is both timely and essential, its execution risked overshadowing more traditional artistic expressions, potentially alienating audiences drawn to classical or analogue art forms.
The quality of the galleries and artists exhibited however is a huge testament to the undeniable quality of Art Dubai. On that note, NASO has chosen to highlight both galleries and artists that stood out at this year's edition of the fair.
Zawyeh Gallery
Works by Nabil Anani and Sliman Mansour were presented, revisiting their influential "New Vision" period that began in 1989. During this transformative era, the artists joined the boycott movement of the first Intifada, refusing to use art supplies sourced from Israel. In response, they turned to locally sourced, natural materials-such as untreated goat leather, mud, henna, wood, and straw-embracing a raw, organic aesthetic rooted in the land itself. This shift marked a pivotal moment in their artistic evolution. Throughout the decade-long "New Vision" period, they transitioned from symbolically representing the land they cherished to creating art quite literally made from it.
ATHR Gallery
Since its founding in Jeddah in 2009, Athr Gallery has been instrumental in shaping Saudi Arabia's contemporary art scene. Committed to experimentation and the pursuit of new ideas, the gallery emphasizes the vital role artists play in the creative process and the broader impact they can have on society. As a steadfast supporter of both emerging and established artists from Saudi Arabia and the wider Arab region, Athr has continually championed artistic growth and innovation. Featured artists at Art Dubai 2025 include Rami Farook (b. 1981, UAE), Lulua Alyahya (b. 1998, Saudi Arabia), and Mohammed Alfaraj (b. 1993, Saudi Arabia).
Sfeir-Semler Gallery
Over the past fifteen years, the gallery has been at the forefront of art production in the Arab world, fostering a distinctive cross-cultural dialogue between Western and Middle Eastern contemporary art practices. It has played a vital role in launching and shaping the careers of prominent Arab artists while also supporting the development of a new generation of emerging talent. Their booth showed the works of Dana Awartani and Alia Farid.
