Best Art Galleries in Dubai

Here are some of the best art galleries in Dubai:

1. Tabari Artspace

Located in DIFC’s Gate Village, Tabari Artspace was earlier known as Artspace Dubai. The gallery has been connecting the local art world with the global ever since it was founded in 2003. Tabari Artspace’s founder, Maliha Tabari, an art consultant and collector, is an expert in contemporary art in the Middle East. She aims to connect international audiences and institutions to the modern artists of the Middle East and North Africa through her Tabari Artspace.

Here are some of the reasons why you should visit this art gallery:

• The exhibitions encompass contemporary artists from MENA and its diaspora. 
• The artworks and artists engage with issues pertinent to the current human condition and connect through fine art. 
• Advanced by an all-women’s team, the gallery highlights the perspective of women and that of the marginalised.
• Tabari holds biannual exhibitions to showcase the works of international artists who are interested in the MENA region.
• As part of community engagement, Tabari Artspace also offers talks, publishing, workshops, and community events. The gallery’s global residency programme, “Home from Home” encourages artists of the region to develop their practice in new environments.

2. Art World Creations (AWC) Dubai

Being a popular cultural centre, the DIFC promotes and supports art and creativity. It is a place for people to explore and absorb various cultures and diversity. Another art gallery that is worth a visit in DIFC’s Gate Avenue is Art World Creations (AWC) Dubai.

The purpose of AWC is to bring the Turkish art and artists together with the art lovers of Dubai. The artworks are both beautiful and thought provoking. Following are some of the reasons why art enthusiasts should visit AWC:

• The gallery values art. It believes that artworks are cultural values that prove the existence of society in the world and symbolises its past. 
• The foundation purpose of AWC Dubai is to connect people through art. It aims to bridge the Turkish art and artists to art lovers in Dubai.
• The gallery gives international exposure to young artists from Turkey.
• There are six solo and group exhibitions taking place at the gallery in a year. This gives art enthusiasts a chance to discover new, mystical, and authentic aspects of Turkish art regularly.
• AWC Dubai is always on the lookout for collaboration with international art lovers at DIFC.

3. The Farjam Foundation

The Farjam Foundation is in DIFC’s Gate Village. It is a private, non-profit, and non-governmental organisation with a purpose to engage and foster a cross-cultural dialogue through art. The foundation’s private collection, the Farjam Collection features Islamic and pre-Islamic, contemporary Middle Eastern, modern, and contemporary art. It is a treasure trove for art lovers and here is why you should visit it:

• The Farjam Collection is a fusion of cultures and traditions of East and West. The Islamic section covers the entire history of Islam and boasts of objects produced from Andalusia to Mughal Indian territories. The modern and contemporary Middle-Eastern section is one-of-its-kind and comprises of iconic works by the modern masters of the region. The modern and contemporary collection include pieces from the Impressionist, Expressionist, Modern, Pop, Minimalist and Conceptual art movements.
• The foundation’s range of works embrace masters, such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Joan Miro, Fernand Leger, Alberto Giacometti, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Anselm Kiefer, Anish Kapoor and Gerhard Richter.
• The gallery participates with local universities and international institutions to encourage and develop a cultural understanding through education and dialogue.
• The foundation hosts tours and programmes for young scholars and universities. 
• All exhibitions and programmes are free, non-political, and open to the public. 

4. Opera Gallery (Dubai)

Last but not the least on our list of best art galleries in Dubai is the Opera Gallery. Located in DIFC’s Gate Village, the gallery is part of the well renowned Opera Gallery Group. The group was founded by Gilles Dyan in 1994 and today boasts of 12 internationally established galleries around the world.

If you're in Dubai, you should give it a visit for the following reasons:

• It is for all kinds of visitors – those who simply want to explore art and understand it in their free time as well as for serious art lovers and collectors. 
• It presents artworks of diverse and multicultural artists, giving people a peek into different cultures and perspectives. 
• The gallery focuses on some of the greatest modern artists, such as Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Bernard Buffet, Henri Matisse, and Lucio Fontana.
• The Opera Gallery also presents the works of the most sought-after contemporary artists, such as Marc Quinn, Yayoi Kusama, Yue Minjun, David Mach, Gérard Rancinan, Mauro Corda and Lita Cabellut. 
• The well renowned gallery offers visitors the best and most integrated art experience.

If art interests you, especially multicultural and cross-cultural artworks, make sure to visit the above galleries. This will give you a glimpse of the diverse artforms from around the world from closer home, in the DIFC!