4 art festivals to catch in Dubai before the end of April
Art for all…
We're halfway through April, and if you're looking to finish off the month with some art to explore, we've got you covered. These are some of the biggest art and culture festivals to take place on the city's annual calendar – cut into not just local, but also global artistic spaces with these celebrations of creativity. Alserkal Art Week
Alserkal Art Week is back in the new year – in great news for all the art enthusiasts, culture crawlers and fine philosophy fiends – and this year, the week-long programme invites you to lose yourself and discover a new meaning of rebellion with A Wild Stitch , the theme of this stint.
Running from April 13 to 20, this edition comes as a challenger to singular perspectives, as always responding to the need of the hour and the region, and reaffirming it's role in sparking a flame of unabashed, bold conversation around the present. Singularity is a fallacy, but why? Why do we need perspectives of variety, of multiplicity, hybridity? Through this curation, take an alternate look at narratives that refuse to be neatly stitched into submission. Discover the full programme here.
Alserkal Art Week, Alserkal Avenue, Apr 13 to 20, @alserkalavenue World Art Dubai
The region's largest contemporary art fair is back for another exciting edition. The holy grail of art exhibitions will run from April 17 to 20, 2025. This year, brought to you in collaboration with Dubai Culture, World Art Dubai 2025 is all about empowering local and international creative prowess.
With over 400 artists and galleries from more than 65 countries, this year's fair promises an immersive experience with 10,000+ artworks, live art demonstrations, and new international pavilions from Zimbabwe, Mongolia, Australia, Estonia, and more. This edition also introduces new features, including a VIP Preview, a Hosted Buyer Programme, a Textile Hub, and a Public Art Initiative extending beyond the exhibition halls.
World Art Dubai, World Trade Centre, Dubai, April 17 to 20, Dhs15, @worldartdubai Art Dubai
One of the biggest, boldest, and most unmissable events on the global art calendar, Art Dubai is where creativity, culture, and cutting-edge ideas collide. Expect jaw-dropping installations, world-class galleries, and a serious dose of inspiration. But it's not just for art insiders, there's a packed schedule of talks, performances, digital art explorations, and even fun activities for the little ones.
All of this unfolds over three electric days at Madinat Jumeirah from April 18 to 20, with previews on April 16 and 17. This year, Art Dubai brings together 120 galleries from 67 cities across 39 countries, with nearly half hailing from the GCC and the rest spotlighting underrepresented voices from the Global South. Expect fresh perspectives, bold statements, and an art experience that goes way beyond the white cube.
Art Dubai, Madinat Jumeirah Conference & Events Centre, Al Sufouh 1, Dubai, April 18 to 20, Tel: (0)4 563 1400, artdubai.ae Bluewaters Art Festival
Taking place at Bluewaters Dubai, the nine-day art festival will add a splash of colour to the city's prominent waterfront destination. It is set to take place starting this weekend, from April 12 to 20, 2025. The Bluewaters Art Festival will centre around the theme 'Reconnect', and will feature over 20 awe-inspiring murals, interactive installations, live performances, and hands-on workshops.
It takes place under the night sky, essentially turning Bluewaters Dubai into a vibrant open-air gallery. The festival will run from 4pm to midnight – so you don't have to worry about burning your skin exploring under the sun.
Bluewaters Art Festival, Bluewaters Island, until April 20, @bluewatersdubai
Images: Supplied/Socials
> Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Campaign ME
a day ago
- Campaign ME
The GCC Luxury Insider
WELCOME TO THE INSIDE This piece explores the stealth luxury trends that are transforming a market known for glamour but more accurately defined by an insider sense of distinction, an IYKYK mindset that's key to understanding the GCC's emergence as a bonafide global tastemaking hub. The influence of stealth luxury doesn't mean GCC consumers have lost interest in luxury; far from it, and their standards are higher than high. But the definition is evolving, too, because when everything is premium… nothing is premium, anymore. Luxury means exclusive, yes, but it's also the joy of reclaimed time, the insider's table, the unlisted experience, the thrill of access over display, and of a life filled with stories worth telling, told through UGC that says more by what it leaves out. The most powerful signals are now nearly invisible, yet unmistakable to those who know. This is the era of the high-end insider: present at every moment that matters, never trying too hard, often ahead of the curve. And just as often, proudly off-trend, maybe even a little weird, whimsical or unique in their rejection of what everyone else is falling for. They open doors others don't even see. And in a louder-than-loud world, the most disruptive thing a brand can offer them is a quietly indulgent space to reconnect to their head, hands, and hearts, one incredible insider experience at a time. Let's dive deeper. 1. LUXURY IS LOCAL Nothing shows you don't get it like not getting the nuances of GCC cultures and subcultures. Hyperlocal and authentic aren't a hook for a regional campaign; they're bare minimums for credibility and prestige. Don't wait for National Day to do something with local relevance; that's what an outsider would do. And that's what many agencies are to the region: outsiders who think Dubai Bling is what luxury looks like in the Middle East. (Hint: not even close.) KSA and Abu Dhabi are prime markets that are misunderstood and under-invested in by luxury brands. The trend is clearly beginning to change, but the potential is 10x what we're currently seeing. 2. LUXURY IS GLOBAL High-end consumers around the world are hungry for discovery. Through social, they peer into diverse cultures, travel opportunities, and global events and moments that are quite tangibly building a new cultural elite that's defined not only by access through traditional institutions but rather being the first to know before a destination / trend is over saturated. 3. THE EARNED POWER OF IYKYK Today's luxury consumer isn't showing off. They're tuning in. Not impressed by exclusivity that feels engineered, they want access that feels earned through credibility. That's why who they follow is not just who's at the centre of the trend; it's who's creating it, curating it, and has true access to where it's being made. To be seen as someone who just wants to be seen is… embarrassing. But someone who's driven by passion, connection, and quality… that's something worth associating with for the premium consumer. It's why supper clubs and homegrown hot spots continue to win against flashy new purely hype-driven spots for buzz creation, marketing ROI, credibility and covetability. 4. THE PREMIUMISATION OF SWEAT Across sports, fitness, and entertainment, what once belonged to the masses (fitness) is being carved into private, elevated, experiences. Private gyms, wellness clubs and even saunas with velvet-rope memberships are gaining steam (pun intended) along with clinics and beach clubs. The luxury-meets-sports collabs aren't over, either. See Jacquemus' premium gym gear, for example, which intersects fashion, home accessories and fitness, or the high-end destinations that are part gym, part club, part beach. For this consumer, sweat is not just sweat; it's exclusivity, performance, self-mastery, and community. A sure-fire ticket to presence, connection, and truth in a world where doom-scrolling affects the wealthy as much as anyone. Sport and luxury intersect at a place that is sensory, grounding, intentional, mindful, and stimulating, all at once, yet brands are underutilizing this rich territory in the region. 5. MEMBERS-ONLY MAGIC We are still in the early days of a members-only trend that'll see access to insider spaces become more important to the GCC's luxury consumers. The pace of growth and types of private spaces defined by art, music, fashion, wellness, sports, automotive and more, will surprise and challenge brands to think bigger, beyond just the pop-up or private influencer dinner. If they don't, the gap in consumer understanding between marketers and luxury-savvy experiential destination builders will continue to widen.
Zawya
3 days ago
- Zawya
Dubai retains global top spot for attracting greenfield FDI projects in cultural and creative industries in 2024
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: (Dubai Culture) Dubai has maintained its first place as the world's leading destination for greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) in the cultural and creative industries (CCI), topping the Financial Times' fDi Markets ranking for the third consecutive year. The 2024 report, which assessed 233 cities under the 'Creative Industries Cluster' classification, placed Dubai ahead of global hubs such as London and Singapore. During the year, the emirate attracted 971 CCI projects an 8% increase from 2023 bringing in AED 18.86 billion in capital inflows, up nearly 60% from 2023, and generating 23,517 new jobs, a 9% year-on-year rise. All major CCI subsectors saw stronger performance, with notable growth in advertising and PR, film and media production, gaming, education, and advanced software design. According to the Dubai FDI Monitor, greenfield, wholly-owned ventures made up 76.5% of all projects, while new forms of investment represented 15.4%, reinvestment 5.6%, and mergers & acquisitions (2.4%). Data from the Dubai FDI Monitor and the Dubai Framework for Cultural Statistics show that the United States accounted for the largest share of capital inflows in 2024, at 23.2%, followed by India (13.4%), the United Kingdom (9.4%), Switzerland (7.6%), and Saudi Arabia (4.8%). India led in both the number of projects (18.8%) and jobs (18.5%), while the UK, US, Germany, Italy, and France also featured prominently across both metrics. Investor confidence continues to be driven by Dubai's pro-business reforms, including Executive Council Resolution 11 of 2025, which enables free zone businesses to operate onshore, expanding commercial flexibility. The city's Zero Government Bureaucracy programme is also reducing red tape across more than 2,000 federal procedures. Combined with strong intellectual property protections and advanced digital infrastructure, these initiatives have helped establish a regulatory framework marked by efficiency, transparency, and ease of doing business. Insights from the 'Creative Dubai: Navigating Tomorrow's Creative Landscape' report illustrate how this ecosystem is scaling with demand, pinpointing investment opportunity hotspots in design, immersive media and AI-driven production. Dubai continues to offer investors access to top-tier talent, competitive setup costs, and strategic connectivity. The 2024 FDI results underscore the city's rise as a global hub for innovation and one of the world's most attractive environments for creative enterprise. *Source: AETOSWire
Hi Dubai
4 days ago
- Hi Dubai
Dubai Wins Bid to Host 2026 International Symposium on Electronic Art
Dubai has secured the prestigious role of hosting the 2026 International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA), further cementing its status as a global cultural and creative hub. The announcement came at the close of this year's ISEA event in Seoul, South Korea, recognising Dubai's vibrant arts scene, world-class infrastructure, and commitment to innovation. The bid was championed by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, and Zayed University. Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture, highlighted the significance of this achievement, stating it reflects Dubai's growing influence in the global art and digital innovation sectors. She attributed the city's cultural ascent to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. ISEA, founded in 1988 and currently managed by the University for the Creative Arts in the UK, is a leading international platform where artists, technologists, and academics converge to explore the intersection of art, science, and technology. Previous host cities include Paris, Montreal, and Barcelona. The 2026 symposium will run from April 10 to 17 under the theme 'ELYAH: Constellating Place, Data and Identity.' It will feature workshops, panels, and exhibitions across Dubai's cultural landmarks, attracting hundreds of international participants. The event aligns closely with Dubai Culture's strategy to boost the digital arts sector and foster collaboration across disciplines. Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, noted that hosting ISEA will enhance Dubai's creative ecosystem, cultural tourism, and global partnerships. Zayed University's Acting Vice President, Professor Michael Allen, expressed pride in co-organising the event and supporting future-ready creative leadership. The symposium's discussions will focus on themes such as digital identity, intercultural dialogue, environmental sustainability, and the evolving relationship between technology and humanity — shaping the future of digital arts on a global stage. News Source: Dubai Media Office
