Frieze Expands to Abu Dhabi as Gulf Art Scene Gains Momentum

Frieze’s Global Journey Expands to Abu Dhabi Beginning in 2026, Abu Dhabi Art will undergo a significant transformation, officially rebranding under the prestigious Frieze name. The London-based art fair giant has selected Abu Dhabi as its latest destination, a strategic expansion that comes amid a growing wave of cultural investment and competition across the Gulf region. Frieze, widely regarded as one of the world’s leading contemporary art fairs, announced it will host a new edition—Frieze Abu Dhabi—in November 2026. The announcement marks a partnership between Frieze and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). As a result, Abu Dhabi Art, which has been at the forefront of the region’s contemporary art scene since 2007, will evolve into a Frieze-branded event. The fair’s venue will be Manarat Al Saadiyat, situated in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District. More than a rebranding, the initiative seeks to fuse Frieze’s global influence with Abu Dhabi Art’s regional roots, positioning the UAE capital as a rising hub in the global art ecosystem. According to Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi: “For nearly two decades, Abu Dhabi Art has positioned culture as a force for dialogue, connection, and creativity. Frieze Abu Dhabi marks a new phase in that journey. As we bring our city’s cultural capital to the global stage, we also provide Frieze with a unique gateway into the region.” Echoing this vision, Frieze CEO Simon Fox added: “Abu Dhabi’s commitment to art and its cultural infrastructure form the foundation of this partnership. Combined with Frieze’s global reach, it will allow regional art practices to gain international visibility and foster new forms of dialogue.” This development is also the first major move under Frieze’s new owner, Ari Emanuel’s media company, Mari, and follows a series of strategic expansions, such as the 2023 acquisitions of The Armory Show and Expo Chicago, and the successful launch of Frieze Seoul. The decision to enter Abu Dhabi sharpens the Gulf’s growing cultural rivalry. In February 2026, Art Basel will debut a new art fair in Doha, bringing two global heavyweights into direct proximity and signaling fierce competition for cultural leadership in the region. Abu Dhabi, meanwhile, has emerged as a formidable player not just in hosting exhibitions, but as a financial and institutional capital for the art market. In a bold move in 2024, the UAE’s sovereign wealth fund ADQ invested $1 billion in Sotheby’s. The famed auction house will hold its inaugural Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week this December, further cementing the city’s role in luxury and investment-grade arts. The city’s broader cultural infrastructure continues to expand, anchored by institutions such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi (opened 2017), NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery (founded 2014), and the long-anticipated Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, set to open its doors in 2026. These developments are strategic as the emirate seeks to integrate cultural, economic, and geopolitical ambitions. Now with fairs in London, New York, Los Angeles, Seoul, Chicago, and soon Abu Dhabi, the Frieze network captures the rising momentum of decentralized global art centers. As Abu Dhabi Art transitions into Frieze Abu Dhabi, the emirate stands on the threshold of becoming a key node in the international art world. Team V.DIR-EM-UAE