Art Dubai, the Middle East’s largest and most prestigious art fair, continues to shape the global art community by fostering dialogue, supporting underrepresented artists, and exploring cutting-edge themes. World Arabia art curator Elen Levitt spoke with Executive Director Benedetta Ghione and Artistic Director Pablo del Val about the 2025 edition.
Benedetta Ghione: Art Dubai was born in Dubai, and our outlook reflects the multicultural heart of the city. Each year, we support artists and galleries from lesser-represented geographies, offering a platform for creative communities not typically seen at other art fairs. In 2025, across our four gallery sections — Contemporary, Modern, Bawwaba, and Digital — not only are we proud to present the very best from our home region and city, but also from South Asia and Central Asia, the African continent, and Latin America. Altogether, the fair will feature presentations from over 60 cities across 39 countries. Art Dubai is more than just a week-long fair — its institutional role is shaped by long-term relationships and commitment to long-term, sustainable impact. This year, we celebrate ten years of collaboration with Julius Baer, our lead partner. This year’s commission features Emirati artist Mohammed Kazem, whose work Directions (Merging) uses animation and coordinates to create a dynamic, immersive experience exploring shifting geographies and borders. Pablo del Val: From where we began nearly 20 years ago with 45 galleries to over 120 this year, Art Dubai has evolved to be a major contributor to the regional and global art community. Our overriding ambition is to continue building a sustainable framework — a space of discovery that represents artistic talent from across the world. In an increasingly challenging world, these artists and galleries play a vital role in telling the stories of migration and cultural exchange that are shaping our shared future. We were ahead of the curve when we launched our digital gallery section in 2022 — the first international fair to introduce a dedicated platform for this evolving medium. The digital installations featured at Art Dubai — including AI-driven works like Ouchhh Studio’s MotherEarth — explore how emerging digital technologies can evoke both awe and unease. Art Dubai 2025 reaffirms its reputation as one of the world’s most innovative art fairs — bridging tradition and experimentation, local and global, art and technology.