Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed at the 16th Abu Dhabi Art

Abu Dhabi Art‘s 16th edition reached new heights with Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed‘s visit to this prestigious cultural event. His presence reinforced the exhibition’s vital role in the emirate’s artistic world. Manarat Al Saadiyat hosted an exceptional gathering of international galleries, artists, and cultural innovators.

Sheik Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan‘s attendance reflected Abu Dhabi’s steadfast dedication to encouraging artistic excellence and cultural exchange. The exhibition established Abu Dhabi as a global art destination with a record-breaking showcase. More than 80 galleries from 31 countries participated, which proved the region’s rising influence in the worldwide art community.

Event Significance and Scale

The 16th Abu Dhabi Art fair has reached a major milestone in the region’s artistic world with exceptional growth and worldwide recognition. This event showed remarkable expansion in size and variety that sets new measures of cultural excellence in the Emirates.

Record-breaking participation numbers

The 2024 edition hit historic participation levels with 104 participating galleries. This number jumped from 92 galleries last year and 80 in 2022. New exhibitors made up 40% of participating galleries, which shows Abu Dhabi’s art market’s growing appeal. These numbers prove the emirate’s status as a global cultural destination and its pull for worldwide collectors and art institutions.

International representation and diversity

Artists from more than 31 countries brought their unique viewpoints to the fair. The international participation had several standouts:

• Georgia, Mexico, Brazil, Singapore, and Chile joined for the first time
• Well-known galleries like LIA RUMMA (Italy), De Sarthe (Hong Kong), and Pablo Goebel Fine Arts (Mexico) made their mark
• Regular participants such as Rossi & Rossi, Selma Feriani Gallery, and Bernier/Eliades expanded their presence

Cultural exchange initiatives

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi brought fresh programming through three unique sections:

• “Something Bold, Something New” – modern artists from the Middle East took center stage
• “The Collectors Salon” – artifacts, historical objects, and manuscripts were on display
• “Silk Road: Drifting Identities” – Central Asian and Caucasian galleries shared their work

The fair aligned with the first Public Abu Dhabi Biennial, which showed the emirate’s steadfast dedication to building its cultural foundation. This timing made the event even more valuable as a hub for worldwide artistic dialog and cultural exchange. Abu Dhabi now stands as a crucial center in the global art ecosystem.

Leadership Vision for Arts

Sheik Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visionary leadership has begun an ambitious cultural transformation that positions Abu Dhabi as a global hub for artistic excellence and state-of-the-art achievements.

Crown Prince’s cultural development strategy

Sheik Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan highlights the UAE’s dedication to preserving its national heritage while promoting dialog between global cultures. This strategic vision includes developing the Saadiyat Cultural District, which reached an impressive 83% completion rate by September 2024. The Crown Prince wants to establish Abu Dhabi as a center for state-of-the-art facilities, outstanding talent, and enriching opportunities.

Investment in creative infrastructure

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has introduced a detailed investment strategy of AED 36.72 billion for infrastructure development. This major investment has:

• The expansion of world-class cultural venues including the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi
• Development of the landmark Saadiyat Cultural District
• Improvement of existing facilities such as Yas Waterworld
• Addition of new four and five-star beach destination hotels

Future roadmap for artistic growth

Abu Dhabi’s cultural vision creates a sustainable creative ecosystem beyond physical infrastructure. DCT Abu Dhabi’s strategic roadmap will generate 178,000 new jobs in tourism and hospitality sectors by 2030. The strategy has 26 initiatives across four key areas: visitor experience improvement, promotion and marketing, infrastructure development, and regulatory framework optimization.

This detailed five-year strategy builds on existing successes and plans to expand tourism source markets from 11 to 26 countries. These plans line up with Abu Dhabi’s Economic Vision 2030 to develop a sustainable ecosystem that attracts and develops creative professionals while establishing the emirate as a leading regional producer of cultural content.

Exhibition Highlights

Manarat Al Saadiyat’s exhibition halls showcased a remarkable display of artistic creativity and cultural richness. The showcase this year brought together an outstanding collection of galleries, installations, and groundbreaking artistic presentations.

Notable gallery presentations

The exhibition space featured an exceptional collection of 102 galleries from 31 countries that displayed over 1,500 artworks. Distinguished professionals curated four focused sectors of gallery presentations:

• Maneli Keykavoussi – Latin American art
• Essia Hamdi – North Africa and West Asia
• Chris Feng – Hong Kong
• Riccarda Mandrini – International galleries

Breakthrough artist showcases

The Beyond Emerging Artists program, the life-blood of the exhibition, featured groundbreaking works by three commissioned artists: Dina Nazmi Korchid, Simrin Mehra Agarwal, and Fatima Al Ali. Their installations ranged from cultural identity themes to environmental sustainability. The Gateway exhibition presented a detailed survey show titled “Maqam” by Emirati multi-disciplinary artist Hashel Al Lamki that explored the relationship between natural landscapes and human interference in locations worldwide.

Interactive installations

TeamLab’s innovative installations at Mangrove Island elevated the exhibition’s interactive elements. Their presentations included:

Life is Continuous Light – A mangrove forest installation that responds to visitor movement Resonating Microcosms – Responsive translucent orbs that emit light and sound Forest of Autonomous Resonating Life – Life-sized installations that change colors rhythmically Pillars that Dance with the Wind – Wind-responsive structures that create dynamic patterns

Rafael Lonzano-Hemmer’s “Translation Island” at Lulu Island featured ten unique interactive artworks. These pieces blended performance, architecture, and technology to create an immersive visitor experience.

Cultural Diplomacy Impact

Abu Dhabi’s cultural diplomacy initiatives have reached new heights through strategic collaborations and innovative exchange programs worldwide. The emirate shows its steadfast dedication to promoting global artistic dialog with groundbreaking partnerships and exhibitions across continents.

Cross-cultural dialog platforms

The innovative Art @ Embassies initiative strengthens diplomatic ties through artistic exchange in 2024. This program makes Abu Dhabi a vital hub for intercultural dialog that brings exceptional Emirati creative talents to the world stage. Two major exhibitions – Beyond Emerging Artists 2023 and Gateway: Maqam – will be presented in Kochi, India. This marks the first time these shows will be displayed outside the UAE.

International partnerships

Strategic collaborations have expanded Abu Dhabi’s cultural reach globally. A landmark partnership with Rizq Art Initiative (RAi) opens new paths for artistic exchange between the UAE and the Global South. This collaboration shows results through:

• Greater exposure for emerging artists from both regions
• New sustainable cultural exchange platforms
• Shared artistic spaces and resources
• Deeper economic ties through creative initiatives

The HSBC partnership has raised the emirate’s international art programming by supporting exhibitions, artist commissions, and cultural site installations throughout 2025.

Art market development

Abu Dhabi’s art market has grown substantially by building connections throughout the Global South. The emirate’s strategic location helps it become more culturally connected, while the annual fair drives market growth. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi runs innovative programs with dedicated sections that showcase modern regional artists and works from Central Asia and the Caucasus.

The fair boosts market development through its year-round visual arts program of artist residencies, commissions, and exhibitions. This detailed approach makes Abu Dhabi a vital hub in the global art ecosystem that attracts diverse views and promotes meaningful cultural exchange across borders.

Abu Dhabi Art’s 16th edition shows the emirate’s rising influence in the global art scene. Under Sheik Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s vision, Abu Dhabi has become a thriving cultural powerhouse. The participation of 104 galleries from 31 countries proves this remarkable growth through focused investments in creative spaces and cultural programs.

The exhibition features interactive installations and emerging artist showcases that highlight Abu Dhabi’s steadfast dedication to artistic excellence. Manarat Al Saadiyat has become a vibrant space where traditional and contemporary art forms meet and create meaningful conversations across cultures.

Mutually beneficial alliances and cultural exchange programs have made Abu Dhabi a crucial link between global art communities. The Department of Culture and Tourism’s integrated approach combines infrastructure growth with artistic programs to ensure the emirate’s cultural sector flourishes. These changes establish Abu Dhabi as a driving force for artistic innovation and cultural exchange worldwide.