For art and culture fans in the city, you don’t need a ticket to see some stunning works of art. You can find it in nearly every corner of the city.
Dubai isn’t just a global hub for business and finance; it’s also an open-air art gallery in its own right. Beyond the glittering skyscrapers and buzzing restaurants lies a city alive with creativity.
In September 2018, during the inaugural project of Brand Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, stated that Dubai will become an open-air gallery.
And now, seven years later, Dubai has accomplished that goal, thanks to the many initiatives by Dubai Culture, Brand Dubai, government entities, and the creatives of the city. A simple stroll under the stars can lead you to striking murals, thought-provoking sculptures, and vibrant art that bring its streets to life.
But it is not done yet, and it is seeking more ways in which it can bring the arts to its residents and visitors.
Here are some of the ways you can enjoy art in Dubai without the need of a ticket.
Dedicated art zones and districts
While art is evident throughout the city, you can be fully immersed in various forms of it in art zones in the city.
Alserkal Avenue
This includes Alserkal Avenue, which is home to galleries, design studios, Cinema Akil; and The Junction –a performing art space.
Dubai Design District
Dubai Design District is another neighbourhood located close to Ras Al Khor which dedicates itself to design, fashion, art, and innovation. It was built to foster talent and support the region’s growing creative economy. It’s possibly one of What’s On favourite spaces to visit, after Alserkal Avenue.
Art festivals
Art season is a thing in Dubai, and while it usually shines a spotlight on the biggest art festivals of the year, namely Art Dubai, World Art Dubai, and Sikka Art & Design Festival, these aren’t the only cultural festivals to check out.
Around the cooler season, the city comes to life with festivals, each offering its own unique atmosphere.
In DIFC, we have the DIFC Art Nights, where visitors can enjoy paintings, sculptures, workshops, and talks under the stars.
Alserkal Avenue is always a treat to visit, but during Quoz Arts Fest, the neighbourhood is bustling with crowds enjoying the artistic atmosphere.
Dubai Design Week is another creative festival that brings the cool Dubai Design District to life with huge design installations you can visit under the stars and engage with. It is also home to Downtown Design, which is the city’s popular furniture and collectible design fair.
And that isn’t the end of it, because just this year, the Bluewaters Art Festival was launched, adding a splash of colour to the city’s prominent waterfront destination.
Murals and street art
‘Dubai is your canvas’, these are words spoken by the Dubai Ruler, and artists and creatives in the city took that quite seriously, moving their art away from the canvas and easel to the walls and buildings of the city.
Around Dubai, you will be treated to huge murals and street art, which make this city all the more colourful.
You can spot these works of art easily in Karama shopping complex, where the art apparently sprang to life overnight back in 2016. The old buildings, once drab and grey, now boast stunning murals and have become a highlight of the neighbourhood.
In Satwa, hidden in plain sight (though not as easy to find compared to Karama), are beautiful graffiti, stencil works, and more wall art. The murals depict Dubai’s heritage, and there are more than 10 to find. Our favourite is the one of the Founding Father of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
And of course, if you’ve visited The Walk at JBR, you will spot art that was created as part of the Dubai Canvas 3D art festival. Created by talented international and national artists, the walls were painted to create cool 3D optical illusions guaranteed to make you go ‘wow’ even if you have seen them numerous times before.
More street art and murals can also be found in Al Fahidi, Al Seef, City Walk, Al Quoz and Alserkal Avenue, and Dubai Design District. Murals have even found their way to the financial district (DIFC), where artists have splattered financial and business buildings with colours, adding a bit of cheer as people go on about their day.
Sculpture Parks
Sculptures in Dubai aren’t restricted to galleries. You will find plenty of them dotted across the city. One popular spot to visit is the Jaddaf Waterfront Sculpture Park. Located adjacent to Jameel Arts Centre, it is the UAE’s first open-air art and sculpture park.
In the financial district, DIFC Sculpture Park transforms the urban landscape into an open-air gallery. You can take a walk through the creativity and discover the different structures around the iconic Gate Building.
El Seed sculpture outside Dubai Opera |. Photo credit: El Seed
Besides parks, a few minutes away, you can find sculptures around Downtown Dubai and near Dubai Mall. Check out the Win, Victory, Love sculpture; Love Me; Wings of Mexico and Declaration by eL Seed within minutes of each other. As a bonus, you’ll have the Burj Khalifa in the backdrop.
Art as part of Dubai’s infrastructure
By incorporating art as part of the infrastructure of the city, Dubai is ensuring it is making art accessible to a wider audience.
One perfect example of this is the Dubai Metro stations, many of which have been transformed into art museums showing art and cultural artifacts. Metro stations like Bur Juman, Union, and others on the Green Line showcase photos of pearl diving, bedouins and more, telling passengers a tale of the history of Dubai.
Ghubaiba – Dubai Metro station
Other stations, such as Al Ghubaiba, feature traditional Emirati designs in their architecture, complementing the surrounding heritage areas. The interiors of the metro station also incorporate traditional Emirati architectural elements.
Everyday life
If the above isn’t ‘in your face’ enough for you, Dubai Culture and Brand Dubai in the past, also teamed up with other government entities in Dubai to make art more accessible.
RTA colourful parking machines
One example includes the Road and Transport Authority, which, in collaboration with the creative sector and artists, turned 100 parking meters across the city into colourful artworks.
Dubai Metro – art on Sheikh Zayed Road
If you’re heading towards old Dubai and are on Sheikh Zayed Road heading towards Sharjah, a number of Dubai Metro concrete piers between Dubai International Financial Centre and Emirates Towers station have been painted, adding a splash of colour to the busy highway. You will see astronauts, clouds, jellyfish, and more underwater scenes.
Bus station art installations
Bus users, don’t worry, you weren’t forgotten. As part of the Jumeira Project, eight artworks were created and erected next to popular bus stations stretching from Dubai Canal to Jumeira Al Naseem. Some of the art evoked nostalgia for longtime residents, while others celebrated its futuristic aspirations.
And there’s more to come…
There is no limit to creativity, and Dubai has its eyes set on doing much more.
With a number of megaprojects and major roadworks coming up, many of which will incorporate art in some form. This could be in the form of landscaping, sculptures, or even fountains showcasing Dubai’s heritage.
Want to experience the open-air gallery right now? With winter coming up, the dates of outdoor art festivals will be announced. Upcoming art festivals we are aware of include the Dhai Art Festival in November. You can find more details here. For all other art festivals, stay tuned to whatson.ae and we will bring you the latest details.
Images: Getty Images, Dubai Media Office, WAM, Dubai Culture and RTA
