Your definitive guide to Art Dubai: What to see and do, when
Highlighting daily activities from the region’s leading art fair
Under a significant cultural spotlight, Art Dubai – the leading international art fair in the Middle East and South Asia – is set to open its doors and welcome visitors in a matter of hours. Art enthusiasts ranging from curators to artists and gallery owners to those who are just passionate about the arts are set to transform Madinat Jumeirah into a bustling hub of discovery. Whether you're interested in attending a book launch, or want to explore a specific section of the fair – Buro 24/7 Middle East brings you the defined details you need to know...
Thursday March 20
2.30pm–3pm
To kick off the art festivities, experience a presentation focusing on the King Abdulaziz Centre For World Culture.
3pm–6pm
Featuring over 40 local and international contributors, this year the Global Art Forum focuses on an imagined timeline of turning points in history – significant decades, years or days that shifted an understanding of the world. Attendees can look forward to commissioned projects and research, as well as live talks and guides.
4pm–4.30pm
Discover the new book Hamed Abdalla via a launch with its author Roula El Zein.
4.30pm–5pm
Samia Halaby will be on hand for a book signing of her novel Five Decades of Painting and Innovation – a book covering five decades of the Palestinian artist's impressive career.
5pm–5.30pm
Take a tour of Art Dubai Projects – a programme that spans residences, site-specific projects, performances, radio, video and music from artist including Nadia Ayari, Youmna Chlala, Clark House Initiative, Sunoj D, Maitha Demithan, Sara Al Haddad, Shuruq Harb, Najat Makki, Amina Menia, Maryam Al Qassimi, Mounira Al Solh, and Hajra Waheed.
5pm–6pm
As part of 'Terrace Talks', a discussion exploring 'Marker', which this year focuses on Central Asia and the Caucasus including Azerbaijan, will explore ways in which innovative organisations are supporting artists and spaces. Speakers include Aida Mahmudova, Dina Baitassova and Nina Mahdavi in conversation with Suad Garayeva.
5.30pm–6pm
Luxury brand Cartier, a sponsor of the fair this year, will offer a tour of its set up which includes the work of African artist Bodys Isek Kingelez, as well as spectacular pieces from its 'L'Odyssée de Cartier' collection.
6pm–6.30pm
Don't miss the book launch of Pars Pro Toto III, written by German-Egyptian multimedia artist Susan Hefuna.
6pm–7pm
Also part of 'Terrace Talks', a discussion on Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Gulf: culture as nation-building accelerator, will take place with speakers including Dina Nasser-Khadivi, Yuliya Sorokina and Bashar Al Shroogi, in conversation with Joanna Warsza.
6pm–6.30pm
Experience a tour of The Abraaj Group Art Prize. Founded in 2009, this is the only prize in the Middle East and South Asia that recognises artists based on their submitted project proposals. The five selected winners of the prize include Abbas Akhavan, Kamrooz Aram, Bouchra Khalili, Basim Magdy and Anup Mathew Thomas.
6pm–6.30pm
Watch the performance Kites Rise Highest Against The Wind by Saudi Arabian artist Ibrahim Abumsmar.
6.30pm–7pm
Enjoy the book launch of Fictionville by Dubai-based Iranian artist Rokni Haerizadeh.
6.30pm–7pm
A tour of Modern – a section of the fair dedicated to Middle Eastern and South Asian art form the twentieth century, which makes its debut this year, will take place during this time.
7pm–7.30pm
Saudi Arabian-born artist Hajra Waheed, will be pleasing attendees with her live installation Character 1: In The Rough.
7pm–7.30pm
Make the most of a tour of Marker – a dedicated space focusing on a specific region, which this year focuses on Central Asia and the Caucasus, curated by the artists Slavs and Tartars.
8pm-9pm
Watch Towards the Possible Film by Shezad Dawood, followed by a conversation between the artist and writer Karen-Wilson Goldie.
Friday March 21
3pm–6pm
Global Art Forum (see above).
3.30pm–4pm
Art Dubai Projects (see above).
4pm–4.30pm
Attend the book signing of Photography, Fashion, Film, Design by Moroccan artist Hassan Hajjaj.
4.30pm–5pm
Tour of Cartier (see above).
5.30pm–6pm
Pakistani artist Fahd Burki will be on hand at a book signing event of Works from 2003-2013.
5.30pm–6pm
Tour of The Abraaj Group Art Prize (see above).
6pm–6.30pm
Watch the performance Kites Rise Highest Against The Wind by Saudi Arabian artist Ibrahim Abumsmar.
6.30pm–7pm
Tour of Modern (see above).
6.30pm-7pm
Attend the launch of The Global Art Compass: New Directions in 21st Century Art, a new book by renowned author Alistair Hicks.
7pm–7.30pm
Saudi Arabian-born artist Hajra Waheed, will be pleasing attendees with her live installation Character 1: In The Rough.
7pm–7.30pm
French-Tunisian street artist el Seed, is set to launch his new book Lost Walls, which explores a project creating artworks in his home country, Tunisia.
7pm–7.30pm
Tour of Marker (see above).
8pm–9pm
Attend the film screening of A Space by Celebration, by Taus Makhacheva, followed by a conversation between the artist and writer Stephanie Bailey.
Saturday March 22
1.30pm–2pm
Tour of Art Dubai Projects (see above).
2.30pm–3pm
Tour of The Abraaj Group Art Prize (see above).
4pm–4.30pm
Iranian artist Ali Bakhtiari will be at the fair introducing his new novel Kanoon.
4.30pm–5pm
Tour of Modern (see above).
5pm-5.30pm
Campus Art Dubai - a school for artists, curators, writers and cultural producers are set to graduate and present a book launch of Campus Art Dubai 2.0.
5.30m–6pm
Tour of Marker (see above).
6pm–6.30pm
Watch the performance Kites Rise Highest Against The Wind by Saudi Arabian artist Ibrahim Abumsmar.
Art Dubai takes place from March 19–22, for more information visit the official website here
