Abu Dhabi Art Exceeds 100 Galleries for the First Time

Abu Dhabi Art 2025 19–23 November 2025

The 16th edition of Abu Dhabi Art 2024, held at the Manarat Al Saadiyat this week, was abuzz with conversations around the fair’s transformation in recent years and Art Basel’s potential involvement from 2025. The Art Newspaper described a takeover as ‘all-but-certain’, although they were unable to confirm it, or the rumoured price tag of $20 million.

A buyout would not be surprising given the U.A.E.‘s rising importance in the art world, evidenced by the development of the Saadiyat Cultural District, home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the soon-to-be Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and Abu Dhabi investment fund ADQ’s recent investment of $1 billion in Sotheby’s.

On the ground, the city’s commitment to the arts was evident, with Abu Dhabi and Dubai streets adorned with signage for the inaugural Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial. Located in the city’s downtown area, the Biennial featured installations by 70 artists, including Daniel Buren, Oscar Murillo, and Farah Al Qasimi.

‘I think this is a fascinating time for the U.A.E. in terms of its dynamic, thriving art ecosystem,’ said Fair Director, Dyala Nusseibeh. Several galleries are turning their attention to the region, drawn by its exciting opportunities and growing significance in the art world. Art historian and gallerist Sundaram Tagore noted the upcoming institutions in Abu Dhabi as a major draw for their participation in the fair this year for the first time.

Abu Dhabi Art has expanded significantly under the helm of Nusseibeh since 2016, when there were only 37 participating galleries. This year saw leading galleries including Leila Heller Gallery, Lawrie Shabibi, and Perrotin take part.

‘Unlike other fairs which are run as a commercial enterprise, Abu Dhabi Art is organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and has a wider mandate,’ said Nusseibeh. ‘It has to serve the art community it is part of and contribute to that community–whether through education initiatives, outreach programmes, exhibitions, artist commissions, knowledge production in the form of books or research and more.,’ she said.

The fair featured a variety of striking displays across its different sections—Special Projects, Modern and Contemporary, Emerge, Bidaya, and Focus.

Visitors were greeted by a large work by Anish Kapoor among works by Ai Weiwei, JR, and Loris Cecchini at Galleria Continua’s booth.

Leila Heller Gallery and its neighbour, CARBON 12 drew large crowds. Leila Heller Gallery mounted works across three sections by Shirin Neshat, Mouna Rebeiz, and Wassef Boutros-Ghali. CARBON 12 presented works by Bernhard Buhmann and rising artist Sarah Almehairi, whose work is also on display at Louvre Abu Dhabi as part of the 2024 Richard Mille Art Here Art Prize.

For their inaugural edition, Efie Gallery presented works by Dr. Mohamed Yousif, El Anatsui, and Abdoulaye Konaté, whose work was also included in the special projects segment, ‘In and Around’, curated by the fair’s director, Nusseibeh. The booth featured works priced between $16,000 and $700,000.

The Beyond Emerging Artists display, under the curation of Galleria Continua co-founder Lorenzo Fiaschi, garnered widespread attention, with Simrin Mehra-Agarwal’s work prominently photographed and circulated across social media.

Hong Kong-based galleries JPS Gallery and Lucie Chang Fine Arts presented some of the most intriguing displays at this year’s edition.

JPS Gallery showed a solo installation by artist b.wing that featured a wall, complete with windows, painted with the words ‘I am not broken, Nice to meet you.’ and ‘I am nice. Nice is good.’ Inside was a recreation of her studio. Last year’s edition marked a significant milestone for the artist, as the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi acquired the entire solo booth and installation pieces for the royal’s private collection.

Nearby, Lucie Chang Fine Arts presented two artists, Angel Hui and Morgan Wu, in the Emerge section. Hui’s neon aquarium display, part of an underwater-themed booth, offered works priced between U.S. $2,700 and $3,800.

The fair included a few well-known South Asian-owned and led galleries, including Galerie Isa (Mumbai), 1x1 Art Gallery (Dubai), and Aicon Contemporary (New York).

Galerie Isa presented works by Ian Malhotra, Diana Al Hadid, and Idris Khan. Founder Ashwin Thadani reflected, ‘Building meaningful connections at any new fair takes time, as understanding and engaging with local audiences requires repeated participation. Over the years, our involvement with Abu Dhabi Art has allowed us to connect closely with the community and gain valuable insight into this region.’

1x1 Art Gallery presented a solo presentation of works by Theo Pinto, drawing sustained interest from potential buyers, while Aicon Contemporary displayed works by Omani artist Sarah Farid, whose pieces were included in the Oman Pavilion at the 2024 Venice Biennale. Prices at their booth ranged from $4,000 to $85,000 with a consistent stream of visitors.

Nusseibeh attributed the fair’s steady growth to a distinct approach: ‘We work hard to support galleries as an integral part of the creative and cultural industries in the U.A.E. rather than viewing exhibitors as clients.’ —[O]

Main image: Opening night at Abu Dhabi Art 2024. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Art.