Dubai has gained a worldwide reputation of being the city with unparalleled luxury. When people think of Dubai, they immediately associate it with super cars, fancy homes, and huge shopping malls. While that association is absolutely true, there’s another side to Dubai that thrives within its very own bubble, where creativity flows effortlessly; and that’s Dubai’s vibrant art scene.
During Dubai’s humble beginnings, emerging Emirati art was rich in poetry, weaving and pottery, which set the strong foundation for the dynamic art scene that Dubai boasts today.
The first ever art gallery, known as the Majlis Gallery was established in 1989, the main aim of the art gallery was to become a hub for creative minds to showcase their vibrant work; the gallery still stands in Al Fahidi Neighbourhood, as an ode to the early artists that graced the region.
One gallery led to the inception of dedicated art and cultural districts scattered around Dubai. Creating a diverse and vibrant art scene for the creatively gifted population that resides within the nation today. This article covers the 3 artistic districts that have disrupted Dubai neighbourhoods with murals, galleries and festivals.
During Dubai’s humble beginnings, emerging Emirati art was rich in poetry, weaving and pottery, which set the strong foundation for the dynamic art scene that Dubai boasts today.
The first ever art gallery, known as the Majlis Gallery was established in 1989, the main aim of the art gallery was to become a hub for creative minds to showcase their vibrant work; the gallery still stands in Al Fahidi Neighbourhood, as an ode to the early artists that graced the region.
One gallery led to the inception of dedicated art and cultural districts scattered around Dubai. Creating a diverse and vibrant art scene for the creatively gifted population that resides within the nation today. This article covers the 3 artistic districts that have disrupted Dubai neighbourhoods with murals, galleries and festivals.
Alserkal Avenue
Located in Al Qouz, Alserkal Avenue is considered the pulse of contemporary art in Dubai. It houses numerous galleries, design studios, and performance venues, acting as the perfect platform for creative expression. Alserkal is also very well known for its community engagement initiatives through art classes and awareness campaigns.
Furthermore, Alserkal Avenue used to be a neglected warehouse district before 2007, it’s now considered a major art hub that hosts galleries, exhibitions, talks, film screenings, festivals, and museums; many of which are free of cost to attend and explore.
The charm of Alserkal Avenue lies in its commitment to uplift small creative businesses. By hosting festivals like Qouz Arts Fest, the avenue comes to life with vibrant stalls from small vendors that gain unmatched exposure from platforms like festivals hosted by Alserkal Avenue. The beauty of these events lies in how multifaceted they are, they’re not limited to traditional artistic pursuits, but also span textiles, food, beverages, photography, leisure games and much more.
The Avenue has managed to create a collective community that’s bonded by the love of art, music, and other forms of artistic pursuits; Alserkal has become the centerpiece of creativity and collaboration in the UAE.
Furthermore, Alserkal Avenue used to be a neglected warehouse district before 2007, it’s now considered a major art hub that hosts galleries, exhibitions, talks, film screenings, festivals, and museums; many of which are free of cost to attend and explore.
The charm of Alserkal Avenue lies in its commitment to uplift small creative businesses. By hosting festivals like Qouz Arts Fest, the avenue comes to life with vibrant stalls from small vendors that gain unmatched exposure from platforms like festivals hosted by Alserkal Avenue. The beauty of these events lies in how multifaceted they are, they’re not limited to traditional artistic pursuits, but also span textiles, food, beverages, photography, leisure games and much more.
The Avenue has managed to create a collective community that’s bonded by the love of art, music, and other forms of artistic pursuits; Alserkal has become the centerpiece of creativity and collaboration in the UAE.
Dubai Design District
Dubai Design District, locally referred to as ‘D3’, is a vibrant community for creative and design industries to thrive in. It’s a popular area for fashion, art, and creativity to take form. After all, it’s home to Dubai Fashion Week which is annually hosted in the same community.
Dubai Design District is thoughtfully adorned with street murals done by world-renowned street artists like Shepard Fairey, Myne & Yours and more. To comfortably host creative minds thriving in design and fashion, the community features design studios and showrooms equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to allow freedom of creation.
The district currently hosts the headquarters of Sephora Middle East, Vogue Arabia, and the annual SOLE DXB festival, and many more coveted brands and events. As the beating heart of design and creativity, Dubai Design District promises visitors to be immersed in the world of fashion and places you on a front-row seat to all that’s unfolding in the Middle Eastern design sector.
Dubai Design District is thoughtfully adorned with street murals done by world-renowned street artists like Shepard Fairey, Myne & Yours and more. To comfortably host creative minds thriving in design and fashion, the community features design studios and showrooms equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to allow freedom of creation.
The district currently hosts the headquarters of Sephora Middle East, Vogue Arabia, and the annual SOLE DXB festival, and many more coveted brands and events. As the beating heart of design and creativity, Dubai Design District promises visitors to be immersed in the world of fashion and places you on a front-row seat to all that’s unfolding in the Middle Eastern design sector.
Jameel Arts Center
This is a modern arts center located along Dubai Creek and was built with the intention to support local and international artists that are unleashing their creativity in the region. By hosting engaging programs and exhibitions, the Jameel Arts Center involves communities into the world of creative expression.
The center serves as a means of education, heritage preservation and supports individuals through artistic entrepreneurship by providing a credible platform to launch from. It’s a true all-rounder in its field, allowing people from all walks of life to unlock their creativity and take it to new heights.
Functioning alongside the artistic districts, Jameel Arts Center was made to operate as a headquarters for Dubai’s artistic pursuits, a beating heart for the dedicated districts and emerging neighbourhoods all over the UAE.
The center serves as a means of education, heritage preservation and supports individuals through artistic entrepreneurship by providing a credible platform to launch from. It’s a true all-rounder in its field, allowing people from all walks of life to unlock their creativity and take it to new heights.
Functioning alongside the artistic districts, Jameel Arts Center was made to operate as a headquarters for Dubai’s artistic pursuits, a beating heart for the dedicated districts and emerging neighbourhoods all over the UAE.
Painting the full picture
As Dubai’s population sores annually, it’s become more imperative to create districts that cater to the interests and hobbies of people from all over the world. To truly create an international hub, it’s important to create a sense of home and belonging, and what better way to do so than to invest in spaces that encourage creativity, collaboration and connection.
The sole reason why Dubai has been growing as a home for young entrepreneurs, fresh graduates, and new families is because it lives up to its promise of having something appealing for everyone regardless of demographics; the artistic and cultural districts stand as a testament to that exact promise.
The sole reason why Dubai has been growing as a home for young entrepreneurs, fresh graduates, and new families is because it lives up to its promise of having something appealing for everyone regardless of demographics; the artistic and cultural districts stand as a testament to that exact promise.