Abu Dhabi joins the Frieze fold
Also this week: Italian icons, light art and AI visions.
Welcome back to Al-Monitor Dubai.
This week, we spotlight the big announcement of Frieze Art Fair taking over Abu Dhabi Art in 2026; the artist lineup of the upcoming second edition Manar Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital’s public light art exhibition; American abstract painter Thomas Dillon’s solo show at Opera Gallery; and the staging of the 27th International Council of Museums General Conference to be staged in Dubai next month.
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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: Frieze Art Fair to take over Abu Dhabi Art in 2026
An aerial view of Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi. (Courtesy of Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi)
Big news rocked the art world last week when the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi announced a new partnership that will see Abu Dhabi Art evolve into Frieze Abu Dhabi in 2026, marking a new chapter for the UAE capital’s role in the global art calendar. The rebranded fair is the first in the Gulf for the fair group’s portfolio, which includes London, New York, Los Angeles and Seoul.
"For nearly two decades, Abu Dhabi Art has reflected our vision of culture as a driver of dialogue, connection and creativity, supported by a vibrant ecosystem of museums, residencies and institutions that nurture both established and emerging artists," said HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, in a press release.
"The launch of Frieze Abu Dhabi is a natural evolution of that journey. It is rooted in the achievements of Abu Dhabi Art and will carry them onto the global stage, reinforcing the emirate’s position as a cultural capital while offering Frieze a unique gateway to the region."
Fair director Dyala Nusseibeh said the core team will remain in place, noting that in recent years the event has been on “a steady upward path,” with growing interest from galleries and collectors alike.
"I think what's really exciting is taking [the fair] to that next level and expanding the networks and impact that we can have as a platform globally," Nusseibeh told Al-Monitor. "I think this partnership with Frieze is going to have a huge impact, and not just for us as a fair, but really for the region."
The partnership comes amid a wave of new launches and expansions across the Gulf’s art scene over the past year, including the upcoming Art Basel Doha in February 2026, the long-awaited Guggenheim Abu Dhabi set to open in 2026, the Zayed National Museum opening in December, and several other art-focused initiatives.
Meanwhile, this year's Abu Dhabi Art marks its 17th edition and also its biggest and most international yet, presenting 143 galleries from 37 countries, up from 100 galleries last year.
Date: Nov. 19-23
Location: Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
Find more information here.
2. Word on the street: Carbone
An interior view of Carbone Dubai. (Photo courtesy of Carbone)
Ten years after its opening in Greenwich Village in New York City, the Italian-American dining rooms of Carbone have a new home at Atlantis The Royal on Palm Jumeirah. The restaurant, which officially opened on Oct. 6 — with a grand party attended by the likes of Naomi Campbell — features an interior inspired by upscale glamor of 1950s New York. Marking Carbone’s 10th worldwide location, head here for some delicious, unforgettable Italian dishes amid sumptuous, dim-lit, ‘50s-inspired interiors. Try the Caesar alla ZZ, chicken massimo, veal Parmesan, linguini vongole and spicy rigatoni.
Location: Royal Atlantis, Palm Jumeirah
Find more information here
3. Dubai diary
Samia Halaby’s City and Yafa at Manar Abu Dhabi 2023. (Photo courtesy of Manar Abu Dhabi)
- Manar Abu Dhabi
The artist lineup has been revealed for the second edition of Manar Abu Dhabi, the public light exhibition in the UAE capital that held its first edition in 2023. Manar, which means “lighthouse” in Arabic, returns with the theme The Light Compass, presenting 23 contemporary artworks by 15 artists and collectives from 10 countries that explore light as both a medium and also a form of guide or navigation.
Highlights this year include the location of Jubail Island, serving as an anchor for the event, where 15 large-scale installations and performances will be presented by artists including Shaikha Al Mazrou, Iregular, Ezequiel Pini (aka Six N. Five), and Encor Studio. Additionally, for the first time ever, Manar Abu Dhabi will extend to Al Ain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where visitors can explore eight installations along the Al Qattara Oasis and Al Jimi Oasis trails.
Date: Nov. 15 to Jan. 4, 2026
Location: various
Find more information here.
- ’The Raw and the Cooked’ by Thomas Dillon
American painter Thomas Dillon will debut his first solo exhibition in the Middle East at Opera Gallery Dubai. Titled “The Raw and the Cooked,” the exhibition presents a new body of large-scale works exploring what the opening press release calls “the dualities of instinct and structure, nature and culture” — a dialogue that reflects the region’s ever-evolving cultural landscape. Dillon is a self-taught artist who recently came on the scene known for his large, abstract gestural paintings. His artistic practice is largely rooted in music, writing and automatism, resulting in raw, vibrant and emotionally charged paintings.
Date: Oct. 23 to Nov. 17
Location: Opera Gallery, Dubai International Financial Center
Find more information here.
- 27th ICOM general conference to be staged in Dubai
Every three years, the International Council of Museums hosts its general conference, a flagship event that brings together museum professionals from around the globe to converse on some of the most pressing issues facing the museum sector today. This year, under the theme The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities, Dubai has been selected as the host city for the 2025 event — a historic milestone for the Gulf nation and the region, as Dubai becomes the first city in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia to host this significant international event since the ICOM’s establishment in 1946.
Date: Nov. 11-17
Location: World Trade Center, downtown Dubai
Find more information here.
4. Book of the week: "That Other Me"
The second novel of Emirati author Maha Gargash is set during the mid-1990s in Dubai and Cairo. It delves into the little-known Khaleeji society and how social mores can contribute to the collapse of a family. The book traces how betrayals and secrets overwhelm the lives of three members of a family, including an authoritarian father, a vulnerable niece and a rebellious, abandoned daughter of a prominent Emirati family.
5. View from Dubai
A view of Gitex Global 2025. (Courtesy of Gitex)
Marking the largest in the event’s longstanding history, Gitex Global returns this year to the Dubai World Trade Center Oct. 13-17, bringing together the world’s largest assembly of technology firms, AI creators, entrepreneurs and government leaders. The 45th edition, additionally features thousands of exhibitors and startups from 180 countries, demonstrating Dubai’s growing international allure for digital and AI transformation.
6. By the numbers
- According to data published by the Abu Dhabi Chamber, the emirate, with 673 AI companies, has experienced a 61% increase in the AI sector between June 2023 to June 2024.
- The UAE was ranked 12th globally in AI readiness, according to Oxford Insights’ 2024 Government AI Readiness Index.