Art in the Desert: A New Era of Culture and Art in the UAE
- peopleinsunlight
- Jan 29
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 5
The UAE is one of the countries with the highest levels of digital access in the world, with internet usage reaching around 99 percent and social media usage even exceeding the population rate. Since 2016, the volume of social media content produced about the country has increased by at least three times. But this “threefold” growth should not be misleading. We are not talking about numbers in the thousands, but about engagement measured in millions and even billions. It is therefore quite likely that many of you reading this have repeatedly come across dozens of pieces of content about the UAE, especially Dubai, covering everything from lifestyle and architecture to luxury consumption, tourism, skyscrapers, and desert safaris. Now, let us put all the clichés aside and take a closer look at where culture and art truly stand in this country, where almost everyone is online and where cultural life has recently been highly promoted, yet also criticized for being “artificial.”
First of all, as always, it is important to approach the subject from a historical perspective. Compared to countries that host iconic cities associated with culture and art, we are talking about a relatively young nation that will celebrate its 55th anniversary in 2026. When placed next to centuries old European cities with long standing artistic traditions, or the art scenes that emerged in the United States during times of war and political turmoil, the reality of a country that did not even exist in those periods needs to be read within its own context. In addition to its limited historical cultural memory, the fact that a large part of the population consists of immigrants has also made it difficult to develop a single, unified cultural language. Over time, this situation laid the groundwork for the perception of “artificial” or “imported” culture. However, as mentioned earlier, evaluating this development within its own reality and making comparisons accordingly is a much healthier approach. Today, in a country of around 11.5 million people where nearly 89 percent of the population consists of foreign residents, this diversity makes it possible for a more inclusive and wide ranging artistic perspective to emerge, one that can address topics often overlooked in centuries old cities.
When we look at the cultural scene today, we see that many exhibitions, events, and productions that stand out in major centers such as New York, London, Paris, or Berlin also make their way to Dubai. We witness the rapid growth of new meeting points where people from different disciplines come together, and we often hear that this country has become one of the new destinations for iconic museums and major cultural projects. Reaching this point, however, did not happen overnight. It was the result of a process that unfolded over nearly thirty years, gaining particular momentum in the last decade.
One of the first strong steps in this process was the Sharjah Biennial, which began in 1993. From 2003 onward, it shifted its focus to contemporary art and transformed from a regional event into an international platform. By the mid 2000s, culture and art started to be treated as a more conscious policy area. Founded in 2007, Art Dubai became an important gateway connecting the city to the global art network. In the same year, the transformation of Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz began, turning an industrial area into a living cultural hub. Today, especially during Quoz Arts Fest, Alserkal becomes a vibrant meeting point where people from different backgrounds and age groups gather, often waiting in long lines just to park.
From the very beginning, Dubai’s art scene developed in close connection with commerce. Over time, however, a more balanced structure began to emerge. The Jameel Arts Centre, opened in 2018, supported this process with research based exhibitions. The opening of Dubai Opera in 2016 and Coca Cola Arena in 2019 helped establish a permanent infrastructure for music and performance. Art spaces in Al Quoz, galleries in DIFC Gate Village, digital venues such as the Theatre of Digital Art (TODA), and places like The Fridge, 25hours Hotel Dubai One Central, and The Workshop Dubai together created a broad alternative network ranging from experimental music to contemporary art and interdisciplinary production.
Before Expo, which was postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic and eventually held in 2021 and 2022 with more than 24 million visitors, the UAE was mainly associated with business and trade oriented events. It is fair to say that especially after 2022, the country has become an important stop on the global cultural map through international art, theater, performance, stage productions, and music events.
Looking specifically at Abu Dhabi, the emirate began to follow a more planned and long term cultural policy. The Louvre Abu Dhabi project, launched in 2007 through an agreement with France and opened in 2017, became one of the most visible symbols of this approach.
With its permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, the museum has become a must see destination for both residents and visitors, while also increasing the country’s global cultural visibility. Architecturally, it not only matches the original Louvre in Paris but also offers a strong and innovative regional interpretation.
Abu Dhabi’s music and performance scene followed a similar path. Launched in 2004, the Abu Dhabi Festival has consistently offered multidisciplinary programs ranging from classical music to contemporary performances. The du Arena, opened in 2009 and later transformed into Etihad Park, became one of the main venues for major concerts. The NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Center, active since 2015, and Etihad Arena, opened in 2021, further strengthened the city’s performance infrastructure. Since 2020, there has been a noticeable increase in both the number and diversity of events. During this period, Saadiyat Island, home to the Louvre, gradually evolved into a comprehensive cultural district. The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi project, initiated in 2006 and repeatedly postponed, is currently expected to open around 2026. The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, opened in 2025, focuses on science and natural history, while the Zayed National Museum, also opened in 2025, centers on the country’s founding and national memory. In the same year, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi introduced digital and immersive art to the region on an institutional scale.
Today, the UAE is not yet a center that can be directly compared to major global art capitals such as New York or London. Instead, it positions itself as a cultural hub connecting the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa, with strong regional influence and rapidly growing institutional structures. Recent investments in long term cultural fields have supported this transformation. At this stage, the ecosystem stretching from biennials and museums to independent venues and large concert halls has begun to generate its own internal dynamics. It remains young, debated, and in constant transformation. At the same time, it is becoming an area increasingly shaped, followed, and embraced by those who produce within it. If policies supporting more independent and original artistic production continue, we can expect many more exciting cultural projects to emerge in the coming years.
Returning to the initial cliches, it is worth remembering how meaningless the “natural or artificial culture” debate becomes in a geography where dozens of different cultures coexist.
Throughout art history, from classical periods to modern movements and contemporary production, countless examples have emerged from artists’ personal stories, historical conditions, creative freedom, and their search for authentic expression. What truly matters is whether what is produced ultimately resonates with us, makes us think, pushes us to question, and offers an experience worth engaging with. Understanding why many cities with centuries old cultural heritage still fail to appear on the global cultural agenda is also important in this context. The real question is how deeply we are able to develop these spaces and where we choose to draw inspiration from.
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