From the UAE to Japan, artists converge for Louvre Abu Dhabi's Art Here 2025
Shadow play at the Louvre, luxe towers and a glimpse into the past
Welcome back to Al-Monitor Dubai.
This week we are spotlighting the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s announcement of the shortlisted artists and jury members for the 2025 edition of Art Here and the Richard Mille Art Prize, six projects from the Middle East shortlisted for the 2025 Aga Khan Award for Architecture, a new upscale workplace launching in Dubai, and a group exhibition reflecting the revolving aesthetics of contemporary Middle Eastern art.
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Happy reading,
Rebecca
P.S. Have feedback or tips on Dubai's culture scene? Send them my way at contactus@al-monitor.com.
1. Leading the week: Richard Mille Art Prize 2025
Shortlisted artists and jury members for the Richard Mille Art Prize 2025. (Courtesy of Richard Mille)
Creatives from across the United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Japan, Pakistan and Morocco are among the shortlisted artists and jury members for the fifth edition of Art Here and the Richard Mille Art Prize, an annual exhibition and competition that sheds light on contemporary art from the Middle East and beyond.
Curated by Sophie Mayuko Arni, this year’s exhibition invites artists to explore the theme of shadows, examining light and its absence to reflect on identity, memory, and transformation.
Once the shortlisted works are selected, they will be unveiled at the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Oct. 11 and will stay on display through Dec. 28, with the winner being announced following the opening in October.
Over 400 proposals were submitted by artists based in the Gulf and Japan and throughout the Middle East and North Africa region.
Thus far, six proposals have been selected for the exhibition, including Palestinian architect and researcher Ahmed Alaqra; Japanese multidisciplinary artist Rintaro Fuse; Emirati artist and musician Jumairy; UAE-based Pakistani artist Hamra Abbas; and architectural duo Yokomae et Bouayad, composed of Takuma Yokomae of Japan and Ghali Bouayad of Morocco. The works selected span various artistic mediums, including immersive multimedia installations, digital performance, architecture and traditional Islamic art.
Dates: Oct. 11 to Dec. 28
Location: Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
Find more information here.
2. Word on the street: Alba
An interior view of Alba in Dubai. (Courtesy of Alba)
This sleek Asian fusion restaurant, located in Downtown Dubai near Dubai Opera Plaza, serves mouthwatering cuisine in a tranquil setting. Designed by South African architect Tristan du Plessis, the interiors feature grounding stone surfaces, warm wood accents, and dim lighting that echo East Asian minimalism. The restaurant, led by chef Vladimir Chistyakov, offers a mix of Japanese and Asian flavors. Be sure to try the tuna rolls and grilled eggplants with kimchi cream.
Location: Dubai Opera Plaza
Find more information here.
3. Dubai diary
A view of Lumena by Omniyat, new ultra-luxurious commercial workspaces on Sheikh Zayed Road. (Courtesy of Omniyat)
• Ultra-luxurious workplace Lumena launches in Dubai
Leading Dubai luxury property developer Omniyat has launched Lumena, an ultra-luxury 48-story tower on Sheikh Zayed Road that will house 91 office units, offering work environments centered on wellness facilities and human-focused design. A signature feature of Omniyat’s latest commercial development will be the Sky Theater, a never-before-seen amenity for a commercial tower in Dubai. The design features a slender architectural form as well as a series of cantilevered structures throughout the tower that offer unique vistas and shared amenities.
Lumena has a gross development value of Dhs3.6 billion ($980 million) and was launched at the Museum of the Future on June 18 with a breathtaking light show.
Find more information here.
• 2025 Aga Khan Award for Architecture
This year’s Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) highlights several notable structures across the Gulf and the wider Middle East, a region increasingly recognized for its innovative design. Among the shortlisted projects are the Shamalat Cultural Center in Riyadh, designed by Saudi architectural duo Syn Architects — Sara Alissa and Nojoud Alsudairi. Another nominee is Wonder Cabinet in Bethlehem, Palestine, by Palestinian architects AAU Anastas. The Morocco Pavilion at Expo Dubai 2020, designed by Oualalou + Choi, is also on the shortlist.
Find more information here.
• “Tajammul”
Curated by Carina Vicente, this group exhibition presents the work of 16 artists whose art reflects the evolving aesthetic of contemporary art across the Middle East. The show is named after the Arabic word “Tajammul,” which stems from the Arabic word for beauty. Participating artists include Basil Alkazzi, Charlotte de Bekker, Moussa Tiba, Oussama Garti and Morteza Zahedi, among others.
Dates: Until Sept. 11
Location: XVA Gallery, Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, Dubai
Find more information here.
4. Book of the week: “Letters to a Young Muslim”
In this book, which was published in 2017, Emirati diplomat Omar Saif Ghobash presents several letters he has written that address the challenges faced by Muslims in a globalized world. The book goes beyond the United Arab Emirates to address Islamic identity and culture across national borders, highlighting the distinct and richly varied nature of Islamic identity. For those traveling or residing in the region, these letters are particularly powerful and provide a deeper understanding of Islamic culture and heritage during rapidly changing times.
5. View from Dubai
A 1968 view of the Deira Clocktower in Dubai. (Credit: R Northway)
One of Dubai’s oldest landmarks is the Deira Clocktower. Originally called the Dubai Clocktower, it was first built between 1963 and 1965 using very limited resources such as beach sand mixed with concrete, which led to cracks in the structure that caused it to need urgent repairs over the last few decades. In 2023, it underwent a makeover by Dubai Municipality. Why was it built? According to the story, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum received an extremely large clock as a gift. He didn’t know what to do with it, so he had a monument designed for the clock near Al Maktoum Bridge.
6. By the numbers
- Growth in the UAE’s non-oil business sector dropped in July to its slowest rate in over four years, evident in the seasonally adjusted S&P Global UAE Purchasing Managers’ Index, which fell to 52.9 in July from 53.5 in June, its lowest level since June 2021, Reuters reports.
- Despite the slowdown, the emirate of Dubai demonstrated strong recovery, with its PMI rising to 53.5 during the month of July, up from 51.8 in June, thanks to a sharp improvement in sales volumes, according to S&P.
- The slowdown was largely driven by a reluctance among clients to commit to new spending due to geopolitical tensions in the region, as well as by slower tourism activity in the summer months and trade disruptions. Still, new orders increased but, as reported by Reuters, at the slowest pace since mid-2021.