By Islam Salah
Art Dubai 2025 brings together the best of the art world in four distinctive sections: Contemporary, Modern, Digital, and Bawwaba. With over 100 galleries participating, this year’s event highlights diversity, innovation, and cultural heritage. Here’s a closer look at what’s in store!
Art Dubai 2025: Key Details
Art Dubai 2025 will take place at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, from 18 to 20 April, with previews on 16 and 17 April. More than 50 cities will take part, showcasing a range of works in the Contemporary, Bawwaba, Modern, and Digital sections.
This year’s edition will feature more than 20 first-time exhibitors, continuing Art Dubai’s commitment to highlighting art from less-represented areas. The fair will emphasize regional representation, with strong participation from the Middle East, Africa, and South and West Asia, alongside a growing Emirati and UAE-based presence.
Curated by Mirjam Varadinis, Magalí Arriola, Nada Shabout, and Gonzalo Herrero Delicado, the 2025 fair promises to continue its role as a dynamic platform for artistic exchange.
Art Dubai Contemporary: A Global Showcase
The Contemporary section showcases incredible works from renowned galleries worldwide. Some notable participants include:
- Aicon (New York)
- ATHR (Jeddah/Riyadh/AlUla)
- Leila Heller Gallery (New York/Dubai)
- The Third Line (Dubai)
- Comptoir des Mines Galerie (Marrakech)
- Pedro Cera (Lisbon/Madrid)
This section explores themes like identity, globalization, and environmental consciousness, pushing the boundaries of artistic expression.
Bawwaba: A Gateway to New Perspectives
Curated by Mirjam Varadinis, Bawwaba—Arabic for “gateway”—focuses on highly curated solo presentations. This year, it features artworks created in the past 12 months or made specifically for Art Dubai. Key artists include:
- Kate Newby (New Zealand): Art: Concept (Paris)
- Nina Kintsurashvili (Georgia): Gallery Artbeat (Tbilisi)
- Mohammad Piryaee (Iran): Parallel Circuit (Tehran)
- Rember Yahuarcani (Peru): Secci (Milan/Pietrasanta)
This section continues to serve as a platform for showcasing emerging talents and underrepresented geographies.
Art Dubai Modern: Honoring 20th-Century Pioneers
Curated by Dr. Nada Shabout and Magalí Arriola, the Modern section celebrates the legacy of influential 20th-century modernists. Visitors can expect thoughtfully curated installations that highlight the innovative practices of these groundbreaking artists. The featured galleries and artists include:
- Agial Art Gallery (Beirut): Nabil Kanso (Lebanon) and Burhan Karkutly (Syria).
- Lawrie Shabibi (Dubai): Mehdi Moutashar (Iraq).
- Meem Gallery (Dubai): The New Vision Group (Iraq).
- Richard Saltoun (London/Rome/New York): Bertina Lopes (Mozambique).
These installations shed light on the contributions of these artists to both regional and global modern art movements.
Art Dubai Digital: A Digital Revolution
Curated by Gonzalo Herrero Delicado, Art Dubai Digital brings together technology and art in incredible ways. Visitors can explore interactive and immersive experiences that challenge the boundaries of traditional art forms. Some of the highlights of this section include:
- 10101.art (Dubai)
- BREAKFAST Studio (New York)
- Sevil Dolmaci (Istanbul/Dubai)
- espace (Dubai)
- Future Maastricht (Maastricht/Milan)
This section reveals the transformative role of digital technologies, from NFTs to virtual reality, in shaping the future of contemporary art.
Why Art Dubai Matters?
Art Dubai plays a vital role in shaping the global art scene by providing a platform for both regional and international artists. It’s a space where new ideas flourish and conversations around art, culture, and technology intersect.
The fair celebrates emerging and established voices, creating cross-cultural dialogue that engages global audiences. Art Dubai is not only a marketplace for art but also a dynamic platform for creative exchange, highlighting the region’s cultural evolution and its place in the global art landscape.
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