The Art Exhibitions in the UAE Worth Leaving the House For
14 April, 2026
Mille
With the UAE still basking in that rare sweet spot of breezy evenings, tolerable afternoons, and just enough sun to romanticize your life, the timing couldn’t be better to step back into the city’s galleries.
Obama Presidential Center Announces Final Cohort of Commissions Ahead of June Opening, Including María Magdalena Campos-Pons, Jeffrey Gibson, Lorna Simpson
April 10, 2026
Artnews
The forthcoming Obama Presidential Center in Chicago has announced the final round of artist commissions that will decorate its campus in the Windy City’s South Side when it opens in June.
The best exhibitions to see in the UAE this month: April 2026
6 April, 2026
CN Traveller
The UAE's cultural scene is rapidly evolving, attracting both international artists and blossoming local creatives. The country's diversity makes for an ideal canvas for the interweaving of cultures, providing a platform for boundless expression and artistic collaboration.
Welcome to The Neighbourhood: Businesses to Support in Dubai
1 April, 2026
vogue arabia
Evolving into a place where creativity thrives, Al Quoz has become a destination where art meets diverse dining experiences in a culturally shifting environment
The Homegrown Names Worth Knowing Now
March 9, 2026
arabianbusiness
In uncertain times, small and homegrown businesses — the studios, galleries, labels and makers shaping the cultural fabric of the city — can often feel the shift first. Which is why choosing where we spend our money can really make a difference. Here’s a reminder of some of the local brands and businesses you can support to help keep the UAE’s creative community thriving.
25 People Shaping Dubai’s Cultural Scene
March 4, 2026
AD Middle east
To outsiders, Dubai may sparkle with skyscrapers and supercars, but insiders know the city’s true magic is shaped by its behind-the-scenes set – the people shaping Dubai’s cultural scene and steering its momentum.
In Dubai, Efie Gallery Is Rewriting the Map of Contemporary African Art
29 March, 2026
observer
We really want to help change people's mindset on what African art is and expand the genre so African artists can be as audacious or as risk-taking as their counterparts.
Obama Presidential Center Announces Final Cohort of Commissions Ahead of June Opening, Including María Magdalena Campos-Pons, Jeffrey Gibson, Lorna Simpson
January 27, 2026
gqmiddleeast
One of my favourite things to do when visiting any city is, of course, ticking off the major national museums. But more often than not, it’s the smaller, more intentional galleries that really tell you something.
Aïda Muluneh, Ethiopian Artist: “My Aim Isn’t To Be Understood, But To Be Remembered”
28 january, 2026
sandytimes
Muluneh’s practice is deeply rooted in her home region of Africa. She is a strong advocate not only for greater representation of African and female artists, but also for the long-term development of photography across the continent — through education, institutions, and cultural infrastructure.
Aïda Muluneh:
An Unparalleled Voice
22 january, 2026
Aesthetica
For 25 years, Aïda Muluneh has been a distinctive voice in contemporary photography, recognised as a leader in her field and a change-maker in the African artistic landscape.
22 january, 2026
al-monitor
Monumental contemporary works return to AlUla this week as Desert X opens its fourth edition, drawing on themes inspired by the writings of Khalil Gibran and the desert landscape itself. In Riyadh, veteran Saudi artist Faisal Samra takes center stage in a solo exhibition…
Aida Munuleh Looks Into the Cost of Carrying History in Her Latest Exhibition, ‘This Bloom I Borrow’
20 january, 2026
ad middle east
The Ethiopian visual artist and photographer delves into an explorative dialogue on collective memory, resilience and survival in her latest body of work
Aïda Muluneh's Solo Exhibition in Dubai is a Celebration of African Women
19 january, 2026
vogue arabia
Aïda Muluneh’s new exhibition showcases striking images of African women who come to life through colour and cultural symbols
Artist List Revealed for Desert X AlUla 2026
15 January, 2026
canvas online
Arts AlUla and Desert X AlUla have revealed the artist lineup for the upcoming edition of the open-air exhibition, which will take place alongside the 5th AlUla Arts Festival and is set to open 16 January.
AlUla Arts Festival 2026, A Garden in the Desert: Art, Design and Landscape in Dialogue
january 13, 2026
marie claire maison arabia
From 16 January to 14 February 2026, the fifth edition of AlUla Arts Festival marks a clear turning point in AlUla’s cultural trajectory. What began as a seasonal programme has matured into a coherent intellectual ecosystem
Aïda Muluneh: ‘Spirituality is a cultural form in Ethiopia’
10 January, 2026
observer
The photographer’s cultural highlights, including Fasika festival, Mariama Bâ’s So Long a Letter, and a surprising West African surf documentary
Aïda Muluneh Expands Her Photographic Practice at Efie Gallery
13 January, 2026
africa art news
Aïda Muluneh has built a reputation as one of the most influential figures working in contemporary photography today. She is known for images that are both formally controlled and politically alert. Her new body of work, This Bloom I Borrow
Leading the week: ‘This Bloom I Borrow’ by Aida Muluneh
January 09, 2026
AL-Monitor Dubai
As the new year and season get underway, Dubai’s cultural calendar reflects a city brimming with creativity and possibility. This week’s highlights include a new solo exhibition by renowned Ethiopian artist Aida Muluneh at Efie Gallery
Where to experience the UAE’s thriving local art scene
JANUARY 09, 2026
villa88
Home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Jameel Arts Centre, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, and many other famous galleries, it’s no secret that the UAE offers an abundance of prestigious cultural institutions. However, away from the big names and priceless art, the nation has also nurtured a growing community of small yet dynamic – and very beautiful – independent spaces that are less talked about.
10 Galleries That Had a Breakout Year in 2025
December 16, 2025
artsy
Tough times make tough people, and nowhere has this adage been truer than in the gallery world this year. Buffeted by headwinds from tariffs to trade uncertainty, many of these businesses have demonstrated resilience, determination, and, above all, a commitment to showcasing artists that they believe in.
María Magdalena Campos-Pons’s ARTnews Awards Are Artworks Unto Themselves
December 15, 2025
art news
María Magdalena Campos-Pons is gradually becoming a fixture in US museums, with a 2023 Brooklyn Museum retrospective having done much to raise her profile.
Yinka Shonibare and more at Efie Gallery’s ‘The Shape of Things to Come’
December 10, 2025
almanak media
Efie Gallery’s dedication to showcasing African Art continued in the second week of October, as they opened "The Shape of Things to Come”, an exhibition curated by Japan-based American curator - Dexter Wimberly.
THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME: SIX ARTISTS REIMAGINING FUTURES THROUGH MATERIAL AND FOR
December 5, 2025
selections arts
The Shape of Things to Come brings together six artists whose practices examine how creative expression registers and reshapes a world in flux.
艺术如何助力阿布扎比的全球文化影响力蓝图
December 5, 2025
ftchinese
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World renowned Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui Stars at ICOM Dubai 2025
November 26, 2025
modern ghana
A world-renowned Ghanaian sculptor, El Anatsui, made a powerful mark as the Keynote Speaker at the 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM Dubai 2025), held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Interview with Japan-Based curator and collector Dexter Wimberly
November 26, 2025
latitudes
Latitudes’ Chelsea Selvan caught up with Dexter Wimberly, the American entrepreneur and Hayama, Japan–based curator redefining contemporary narratives.
Sheikha Latifa MR Al Maktoum Highlights the Power of Art in Meeting with Renowned Sculptor El Anatsui at ICOM Dubai 2025
November 17, 2025
dubai observer
El Anatsui is widely recognized for transforming everyday materials into expressive artworks that reflect African heritage and global narratives. During the meeting…
Abu Dhabi Art's swansong marks high note in its mission to champion under-represented art histories
November 17, 2025
the national
The 17th Abu Dhabi Art is a valediction, the last statement the fair will make before it rebrands as Frieze Abu Dhabi next year.
UAE art guide: 20 museum and gallery exhibitions, including 421 Arts Campus anniversary show in Abu Dhabi
November 14, 2025
the national
A three-part exhibition at 421 Arts Campus traces the evolution of the contemporary arts scene in the UAE; the Sharjah Art Foundation marks…
Hamdan bin Mohammed witnesses opening of the 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums
November 12, 2025
government of dubai media office
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, witnessed the opening of the 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums…
Efie Gallery presents The Shape of Things to Come, a major group exhibition curated by Japan-based American curator Dexter Wimberly.
From October 10, 2025 to January 10, 2026, "The Shape of Things to Come" opens at Efie Gallery, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai. Curated by Japan-based American curator…
The Shape of Things to Come, curated by Dexter Wimberly, and running from 11 October 2025 to 10 January 2026 at Efie Gallery
Anything is possible in multidisciplinary artist María Magdalena Campos-Pons’s world—including a field in a sugarcane plantation, a utopia of happy farmers, and a fresh new perspective her viewers can find solace in.
May 22, 2025
