Inside Abu Dhabi Art Fair

It’s been quite some time since the art world has been confined to the traditional hubs of New York, London, and Paris. Yes, we can respect that Paris is home to some of the greats — Gaugin, Degas, Monet — and that London’s Museum scene is next level — a moment of silence for the V&A. But there’s a new kid on the proverbial block. One which is championing the often-overlooked voices and seeking to build a bridge between East and West.

Abu Dhabi has, not so quietly, been making a growing impression on the art scene in the last few years. There’s now a Louvre Abu Dhabi, bien sûr, a permanent TeamLabs immersive installation, konnichiwa to the Middle East, and many more. Perhaps then, it’s not surprising that Frieze, THE leading global contemporary organisation, has recognised the artistic pulse of the city. So, Abu Dhabi Art Fair, after 17 successful iterations, will, as of 2026, become Frieze Abu Dhabi.

With change afoot, we wanted to give you, dear reader, an insider look at what the Abu Dhabi Art Fair is right now — a cultural melting pot centred on under-represented art histories — so come 2026, this celebration of art will be well and truly on your radar.

Hosted at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi’s cultural district, the event was a truly international affair, featuring 142 galleries from over 34 countries. So much so that the Global Focus Sectors played a critical role in the occasion. Underscoring the value of diverse international relationships, spotlights were placed on Nigeria — created in collaboration with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy.

Part of the exhibition were artists like Samuel Nnorom, who transforms everyday materials into sculptural “bubble” forms to explore themes of identity and resilience. Discarded Ankara fabrics, in a nod to his culture, are rolled into tiny balls, resulting in textually and culturally rich works.

Modern Türkiye and the Gulf Region were also central themes. The former saw representatives like the Istanbul-born Burhan Doğançay, who followed in the footsteps of his well-known painter father Adil Doğançay. Burhan’s typical collage style is hard to describe, given the different media he employs — everything from abstraction and painting to photography and calligraphy.

As for the Gulf region, multi-disciplinary artist Camelia Mohebi presented a solo exhibition with Rizq Art Initiative, exploring the poetry of sound and energy. In using sound, light, and large areas of colour, she creates a sense of calm and introspection among the audience.

This year’s Visual Campaign Artist is Emirati artist Shaikha Al Mazrou, considered to be one of the most dynamic and promising artists in the region. Her work at the Art Fair — largely comprising of pleated, wet-coated steel — embodies the spirit of experimentation and innovation shaping the UAE’s contemporary art scene.

If this year’s showing is anything to go off of, Frieze Abu Dhabi will be making a significant splash in the global art scene. You heard it hear first. Book your flights, pack your bags and get your passes as soon as you can.

The Abu Dhabi Art Fair runs until 23 November 2025. abudhabiart.ae