Five new art exhibitions across the UAE to have on your radar
From Alserkal Avenue in Dubai to MiZa at Zayed Port and Leaf Tower on Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi, discover five exhibitions bringing together international artists, local talent and fascinating stories told through art and design.
Image courtesy of exhibition Beyond the Visible, artist Kojo Marfo
From ancient goldsmithing techniques to Arab modernist sculpture and contemporary painting, five exhibitions across Dubai and Abu Dhabi offer plenty to discover this November.
November brings a fresh selection of exhibitions to the UAE’s art and design calendar, with galleries and cultural spaces presenting work that spans centuries, materials, and creative disciplines. From the history of gold craftsmanship to the relationship between art and collectible design, these five shows each offer a different perspective. Whether you are interested in the region’s artistic heritage or contemporary practices, here are five exhibitions to add to your calendar.
An Encounter of Forms
Bringing contemporary art and collectible design into conversation, The A/P Room and Tabari Artspace present works by artists and designers including Nasser Almulhim, Zaha Hadid, Vincent Dubourg, and Roham Shamekh. Paintings and objects interact through colour, texture, and movement, exploring how different materials and creative disciplines can influence the way we experience each other.
When and where: 4 November to 31 December 2026 at The A/P Room, Warehouse 81, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai. Open Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm, with weekend visits by appointment.
Websites: theaproom.com | tabariartspace.com
Recreating Gesture: Crafting a Gold Necklace from the Iron Age
Presented by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, supported by Van Cleef & Arpels, this exhibition explores the recreation of a Celtic gold torque, a neck collar made more than 2,000 years ago. The result of an experimental archaeology project, it brings together research into ancient goldsmithing, craftsmanship and the techniques used during the Second Iron Age.
When and where: 5 November 2026 to 24 April 2027 at L’ÉCOLE’s campus, Building 10, Dubai Design District (d3), Dubai. The exhibition is accompanied by demonstrations, talks, workshops and discussions organised with Dubai Culture and Athar Dubai.
Website: lecolevancleefarpels.com
Beyond the Visible
Ghanaian-born, London-based artist Kojo Marfo explores identity, perception, and human connection through expressive compositions informed by his Ghanaian heritage and Akan artistic traditions. His paintings feature enigmatic figures, unexpected proportions, and imaginative combinations of human and animal characteristics. At FYND, the works are presented alongside sculptural furniture by UAE studio Contemporary Spaces.
When and where: 5 to 30 November 2026 at FYND, Warehouse 64A, Alserkal Avenue, 17th Street, Al Quoz Industrial Area 1, Dubai. Open daily from 10am to 7pm.
Website: jdmalat.com
What We Left in the Sandbox
Presented by the Rizq Art Initiative, What We Left in the Sandbox is a solo exhibition by Emirati artist, author, and curator Reem Al Mubarak, curated by architect and researcher Azza Aboualam. Exploring memory as a source of creativity, the exhibition combines Al Mubarak’s personal reflections with Aboualam’s research on how space shapes and preserves collective memory.
When and where: 6 November 2026 to 10 January 2027. Located in Rizq Art Initiative, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi.
Website: rizqart.com
Sculpture, Form & Memory
Maha Al Mansoori Art Gallery presents more than 10 major works by Egyptian modernist sculptor Mahmoud Moussa (1913–2003), marking the first solo exhibition dedicated to the artist in the UAE. Curated by Maha Al Mansoori in collaboration with Cairo’s Motion Gallery, the show explores how sculpture can preserve memory and express emotion through material, form, and detail.
When and where: 11 to 15 November 2026, from 10am to 10pm, at Region Concept Space, MiZa, Zayed Port, Abu Dhabi.
Website: mahaalmansooriartgallery.com