Art Dubai opens amid regional tensions

The Middle East’s largest annual contemporary art fair, Art Dubai, opened in Dubai on Friday under the shadow of the ongoing Iran conflict, with organisers highlighting resilience despite regional uncertainty and a scaled-down event format.

Now in its 20th edition, the internationally recognised art fair was delayed by a month after escalating tensions in the Middle East disrupted original plans. Organisers said the conflict forced them to reconsider logistics and participation, resulting in fewer galleries and a stronger focus on local and regional audiences this year.

Executive Director Benedetta Ghione said the decision to continue with the event was symbolic, reflecting the determination of the cultural community to move forward despite instability in the region. Organisers also waived entry fees this year to encourage attendance, leading to more than 16,000 online registration requests — significantly above the fair’s usual ticket sales of around 10,000 visitors.

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The ongoing conflict has impacted the United Arab Emirates economically and strategically, affecting oil exports and challenging the country’s image as a stable business and tourism hub in the Middle East. Despite these concerns, several international gallery owners and artists still travelled to Dubai to participate in the fair.

French gallery owner Frank Elbaz described Dubai as a city with long-term potential, saying the atmosphere remained energetic despite geopolitical tensions. Lebanese gallerist Saleh Barakat also stressed the importance of participating in solidarity with the regional art community, especially as neighbouring countries continue to face instability linked to the war.

Art Dubai has long served as a major platform for artists from the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. This year’s edition reflects both the challenges facing the region and the determination of its creative sector to maintain cultural dialogue during uncertain times.