The GCC's gallery scene has matured well past a handful of well-known names. Dubai alone now supports a dense cluster of spaces — JD Malat, Ayyam, Efie Gallery among them — each with a distinct curatorial identity, while independent spaces in Bahrain, Qatar and beyond are building their own audiences away from the bigger art-fair spotlight.
Efie Gallery's programming around African and diaspora art has been one of the more consistently interesting threads in the region's gallery world recently, and it's a useful example of how a single gallery's choices can shift what "GCC art" looks like from the outside — proof that the most interesting programming doesn't always come from the biggest or best-funded names in the room.
This page collects our gallery coverage — exhibition spotlights, opening reports and the odd practical guide for visiting with confidence — across the region's commercial and independent spaces, updated regularly as we publish new pieces.
Efie Gallery opens its new Alserkal Avenue space with The Shape of Things to Come, a landmark group exhibition curated by Dexter Wimberly. Featuring artists such as El Anatsui, Iman Issa, Yinka Shonibare, and Carrie Mae Weems, the exhibition reflects on contemporary life through bold, innovative practices. On view from 11 October 2025 to 10 January 2026, this must-see show affirms Efie Gallery’s mission to connect African voices with global audiences in the heart of Dubai’s art district.
Efie, the Twi word for ‘home’, reflects the idea of belonging through culture, history, and identity for communities across the world. Founded by Kwame and Kobi Mintah, Efie Gallery has rapidly become a cornerstone of Dubai’s contemporary African art scene. Set to open its doors in the trendy Alserkal Avenue, with a new two-storey, 4,400 sq. ft. space and a monumental solo exhibition by internationally acclaimed Cuban artist María Magdalena Campos-Pons this April, Efie Gallery is poised to make a significant impact.
This week’s Art in the Middle Exhibition Spotlight features Ethiopian artist Aïda Muluneh at Efie Gallery, Alserkal Avenue (17 January – 5 April 2026), presenting over ten previously unseen works from her latest photographic series, shot in her Abidjan studio and hand-finished in Dubai, where photography, painting, and performance converge to explore identity, womanhood, and heritage through bold colour and symbolism.
JD Malat Gallery Dubai presents “The Unsaid Remains Remembered,” a solo exhibition by Paris-based artist Sophie-Yen Bretez, on view from 1 Oct to 2 Nov 2025. The show features large-scale works exploring memory, silence, and transformation through symbolic landscapes and everyday objects.
Made in the UAE exhibition at JD Malat Gallery presents seven contemporary artists exploring identity, memory, and materiality in the UAE art scene.
Inside Out 2025 at Ayyam Gallery Dubai marks the return of Syrian artist Elias Izoli. Through vivid portraits and circus motifs, Izoli transforms the trauma of war into deeply moving visual narratives. The exhibition explores resilience, illusion, and the unseen struggles of life under conflict, inviting viewers to step beyond the surface and witness the emotional truths beneath.
The complete guide to Doha Fire Station gallery, including ticketing information and the exhibits in February and March.
Located in Bahrain’s Manama Sea Front, Gallery B•R isn't your typical art space – forget predictable white walls and predictable art. This gallery, located at 10 Harbour Row, curates a compelling and colourful dialogue between contemporary art, mid-century design, and intriguing antiques.
Discover 6 ways to experience a gallery with confidence, from understanding artwork to exploring exhibitions, asking questions, and enjoying art your own way.
