Discover Dubai | Dubai Art Galleries | Art in Dubai

Posted on

2 June 2013

| Last updated on 14 January 2020

Art in Dubai

In Dubai you will probably often hear “there’s not enough culture” from both visitors and residents. It is not 100% true: from one hand the galleries and arty events are not that easy to find in this city as shopping malls and boutique restaurants, but from other hand you may discover completely other side of Dubai by visiting exhibitions in the dust of Al Quoz or have a coffee with friends in the gallery middle in old Dubai.

Over the last few years there has been a growing art scene coming from local and regional artists which has helped transform the perception of Dubai as a characterless, mall obsessed city into a thriving cultural scene. Big art events are annually held in UAE such as Art Dubai or Sharjah Biennial that play a big role in artistic and cultural development of the Gulf region.

There are three areas, which are well known as an art galleries hub in Dubai: Bastakiya, DIFC and Al Quoz.

Bastakiya (or Bastakia) in Bur Dubai near the Dubai Museum is a historic area and actually the only part of Dubai where you can see some of the original housing in the city, before all of the skyscrapers and office buildings went up. You will find several quaint cafes and galleries along Dubai Creek. Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding conducts tours of the area. The must see is "Basta Art Café", quiet and laid back outdoor café, where you can have a quick coffee, fresh juice, or snack and while waiting have a look at some art works and jewellery from local artists.

DIFC Gate Village is a contemporary urban area that’s home to art galleries, boutiques and restaurants. Twice a year Gate Village hosts Dubai Art Night that combines elements of art, music, film and design through a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, where people can come together in a relaxed setting, to mingle and unwind after work, while enjoying the creative experience.

Although Al Quoz does not exactly hold the usual Dubai glamour, with cement factories, labour camps and extreme dust, it is here where the local Dubai art scene took hold. Home for over ten contemporary art galleries in Al Quoz is Al-Serkal Avenue that at first glance looks like a block of warehouse spaces, but in effect is Dubai's celebrated art hub.

Art Galleries in Dubai:

Authentique Art & Design | The aim of our gallery is to contribute to the cultural exchanges between Dubai and France through the exhibition of exceptional art, and to cultivate an environment for artists, and art lovers | +9714 3854731 | www.authentique-art.com | Jumeirah 1

4 Walls Art Gallery | Middle Eastern and international modern art |+ 9714 338 – 8892 |www.4walls-dubai.com | Al Quoz

Art Sawa | World-class contemporary art | www.artsawa.com | +971 4 3408660 / +971 4 3862366 |Al Quoz and DIFC, The Gate Village

Artspace Gallery | Contemporary Middle Eastern Art | +9714 3230820 |www.artspace-dubai.com | DIFC, The Gate Village

Ayyam Gallery |Syrian art | +971 4 3236242 +971 4 4392395 | www.ayyamgallery.com |Alserkal Avenue,Al Quoz and The Gate Village, DIFC

Arabian Tea House Restaurant & Cafe | +971 4 2555234 | Bastakiya, Bur Dubai

Café Ceramique | Ceramic decoration and craft activities in a café-style environment. Perfect for kids. | +971 4 232 8616 | www.cafe-ceramique.com | Festival City

Carbon 12 | Contemporary art: international and local artists |+971 50 464 43 92 / +971 50 873 96 23| www.carbon12dubai.com | A1 Quoz 1, Street 8, Alserkal Avenue, Warehouse D37

Cartoon Art Gallery | Regional and international artists, illustrators, and cartoonists | +9714 346 6467 | www.cartoonartgallery.org | 4B Street, Al Quoz 1

Cuadro | Contemporary and modern art |+ 9714 425 0400 | www.cuadroart.com | DIFC

Etemad Dubai | Contemporary art from America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East | +971 4 346 8649 | www.galleryetemad.com | Unit 12, Alserkal Avenue, Street 8, Al Quoz 1

Green Art Gallery | International and Middle Eastern art | +971 4 346 9305 | www.gagallery.com | Al Quoz 1, Street 8, Al Serkal Avenue, Unit 28

Guy Flichy Gallery | Modern and contemporary art | +971-50-5415392 | Bur Dubai, Al Bastakiya

Hunar Gallery | Locally owned gallery exhibits paintings, sculptures, metal works and ceramics | +9714 286 2224 | www.hunargallery.com | St. No. 49a, Villa No. 6, Rashidiya

Lawrie Shabibi Gallery | Contemporary art from the Middle East, North Africa, South and Central Asia | +971 (0)4 346 9906 | www.lawrieshabibi.com | Unit 21, Alserkal Avenue, Al-Quoz

Marsam Mattar | Emirati art | +9714 3988331 | Villa 21, St. 4b, Al Hudaibah 322, Satwa

Meem Gallery | Modern and contemporary Middle Eastern artists | +9714 347 7883| www.meemartgallery.com | Umm Suqeim Road, Warehouse 1, Al Quoz

Miraj Islamic Art Centre | A museum, showroom and a showcase for creative art from Islam | +971-4-3941084 | www.mirajislamicartcentre.com |Villa 582, Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah 3

Mojo Gallery | Fine art and design | 04 347 7388 | Unit 33 Al Serkal Avenue, Street 8, Al Quoz 1

Opera Gallery | High-end contemporary paintings, photography, furniture, sculpture | +9714 323 0909 | www.operagallery.com | Gate Village Building 3, DIFC

Pro Art Gallery | Over 50 artists from 20 countries permanently on display | +9714 345 0900 | www.proartuae.com | Palm Strip Mall, First Floor, Opposite Jumeirah Mosque

Rotunda Gallery | The American University of Dubai's gallery space that shows student work, plus a range of artists from the UAE and abroad | +9714 399 9000 | Dubai Media City

Salsali Private Museum | Modern and contemporary artworks from Ramin Salsali’s private collection | +971 (0)4 380 9600 | www.salsalipm.com | Al Quoz 1, Road 8, Alserkal Avenue Complex, Unit 14

Shelter | Creative community workspace and chill-out zone with a garden, library, cinema, café and store | +04-380-9040 | www.shelter.ae | Warehouse 30, Al Serkal, Al Qouz

Tashkeel | Independent resource for artists and designers living and working in the UAE | +9714 336 3313 | www.tashkeel.org | Nad Al Sheba, Opp. Nad Al Sheba Police Station

The Ara Gallery | Artists from the Arab world | +9714 454 2784 |www.thearagallery.ae | Burj Plaza, Emaar Boulevard, Downtown Dubai

The Courtyard Gallery | International art by world renowned artists | +9714 347 9090 | www.courtyardgallerydubai.com | Al Qouz Street 6

The Fridge | Music agency and a space for concerts, exhibitions, events, jamm-sessions and workshops | +9714 347 7793 | www.thefridgedubai.com | Warehouse #5, 26 Street, Blue Roof (KPS sign on the the front)

The JamJar | Creative space that works to promote artists and support the development of Dubai’s arts scene | +9714 3417303 | www.thejamjardubai.com | St. 17a, Comm 368, Between Habitat & Chevrolet Insportz, Behind Dubai Garden Centre

The Pavillion | Non-profit contemporary art space with restaurant, a cinema, a library, an espresso bar, a shisha café and lounge| +97150 6441304 | www.pavilion.ae | Emaar Boulevard, Downtown Dubai

The Third Line | Contemporary Middle Eastern artists | +9714 3411367 | www.thethirdline.com | Al Quoz 3

Traffic | Mix of art genres: international with Middle Eastern, traditional with street art, and fine art with new media, plus space for concerts, film screenings and talks | +9714 3470209 | www.viatraffic.org | 179 Umm Suqeim Rd.

XVA Gallery | Contemporary art from the Arab world and Iran | +9714 3585117 | www.xvagallery.com | DIFC