Art Dubai 2024 announced an expansive programme featuring exhibitions, commissions, and conferences, taking place from 1 to 3 March at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. Now in its 17th edition, the art fair featured over 120 galleries from more than 60 cities in four sections: Contemporary, Bawwaba, Modern, and Digital. A highlight was the thought leadership programme, including the flagship Global Art Forum examining the relationship between extreme weather and change, Modern and Collector Talks presented in partnership with Dubai Collection, and the new three-day Art Dubai Digital Summit.
Several new commissioned projects premiered. As part of the Sanacion/Healing theme, performances and activations by artists including Cecilia Bengolea and Hashel Al Lamki created spaces for introspection. Swiss wealth manager Julius Baer unveiled Krista Kim’s immersive installation Heart Space, which visualises visitors’ heartbeats.
Other participating partners included the Dubai Collection, presenting the Encounters exhibition of works by Emirati artists. Piaget launched The House of Gold, showcasing heritage pieces and a watch redesigned by Shamsa Alabbar. Huna unveiled an outdoor sculpture park.
Clinique La Prairie commissioned a sculpture by Sara Naim for their Longevity Lounge. Extending beyond the fair itself, Art Dubai Week encompassed over 50 cultural institutions and events across the UAE, including exhibitions by Gavin Jantjes and Hana El-Sagini. The programme cemented Art Dubai’s role in supporting local and regional art ecosystems through major commissions, education initiatives, and conferences that bring genuine intellectual substance to a city increasingly serious about its cultural infrastructure.