A solo exhibition by the Syrian artist that includes large-scale portraits, a tile installation, sculptures, artist books, and works on paper. At the centre of Tallaa's practice is the face, not as portrait or likeness, but as witness; this exhibition, curated [... more]
Built from layers of sand collected in the UAE, chalk powder, pigments, and acrylic, the surfaces of Ahmad Tallaa's large-scale portraits at the centre of this show are dense and almost sculptural – as the gallery puts it, "Faces do [... more]
Built from layers of sand collected in the UAE, chalk powder, pigments, and acrylic, the surfaces of Ahmad Tallaa’s large-scale portraits at the centre of this show are dense and almost sculptural – as the gallery puts it, “Faces do [... more]
A solo presentation by the French-Algerian artist and filmmaker that reinterprets The Conference of the Birds,a 12th-century epic poem by Farid ud-Din Attar, in which a flock of birds search for a mighty ruler and ultimately find their strength within [... more]
A new body of 15 paintings by the Kuwaiti artist that takes us into a life split between two worlds, London and Kuwait– considering what it means to live in two places, or "to be two Dalals" as the artist [... more]
The UAE's first solo exhibition dedicated to the Egyptian sculptor. Mahmoud Moussa (1913–2003) is described by Maha Al Mansoori Art Gallery – which is responsible for this short-run Frieze-adjacent show – as one of the most important figures in Arab [... more]
A nice idea from Emirates Literature Foundation – a casual two-hour hands-on session of writing sprints, creative challenges, and independent writing. Useful whether you’re blocked, halfway through a novel, starting with a blank page, or experimenting with poetry or monologues. [... more]
"A comedy whirlwind featuring a revolving lineup of Dubai's best comedians and fresh faces! You never know what will happen!" Standup with the Mad Cat folk. The cover charge of AED 99 includes one drink.
Afrah Shafiq’s Nobody Knows for Certain is a multimedia game that draws on the illustrated children’s books that were distributed widely in India by the USSR, highlighting a little-known chapter of Cold War-era cultural exchange. These richly illustrated Soviet fairytales [... more]
Safekeeping Stories, by UAE-based Indian artist and graphic designer Hannan Arshad, was the winner of the 2025 Award. A poignant response to cultural loss, and a compelling example of how historical narratives can be reimagined through contemporary public art, the [... more]
A joint exhibition by two Syrian artists who explore their homeland's living heritage through abstract painting (Hijazi) and mosaic jewellery (Al Kuzbari) – "a dialogue between memory, tradition, and the present ... heritage as a living presence in contemporary art [... more]
A solo show for the Palestinian artist Wadeei Khaled that considers the family as the foundation through which we understand ourselves, our histories and our connection to place. "His paintings transform everyday gestures of love and care into a visual [... more]
Significant works and new commissions by the Emirati artist and sculptor known for her material experimentation across steel, marble, glass, resin and copper. Curated by Reem Fadda, alongside Noor AlMehairbi, Paz Monge and Afra Saif Almazrouei, the exhibition unfolds across [... more]
Under the theme Future Forms, DIFC Art Nights claims to feature more than 600 artworks in exhibitions, "interactive art installations", creative workshops, live artistic performances and musical entertainment. This edition also has a dedicated Emirati heritage art corner with works [... more]
421's writing seminar, led by Sarah Afaneh and designed for writers at any stage of their practice, approaches the page as a spatial site for poetry – considering how typography, fragmentation, erasure, and arrangement can shape meaning. Participants will play with [... more]
Mad Cat Comedy's regular Thursday stop in Silicon Oasis promises "insane laughs every week". The door price of AED 99 includes one drink and popcorn.
“Dubai’s hottest comedy night” (aka the Mad Cat team) come to the moodily-lit speakeasy style bar in DIFC for a regular Thursday gig. The door price includes one drink.
A public artwork, performance and community project, Sebastian Mayer’s Hannibaby draws from an absurd family adventure. Structuring a life-size baby elephant puppet around his toddler’s carrier, the duo covered a 70km-distance from France into Italy through the Cottian Alps in [... more]
New works by the Kenyan artist Maggie Otieno, her first solo show here since the gallery began representing her in 2024 . Otieno’s practice centres on the transformation of reclaimed and distressed materials.; working across wood, metal, and mixed media, [... more]
Bani Abidi’s Artist’s Room displays a single body of work, Trembling hands (2024) – a series of portraits of artists, journalists, politicians, lawyers, doctors and civil society leaders who publicly spoke out against the genocide of Palestinians, often using public platforms [... more]
A group exhibition organised with Feminin Pluriel, featuring the work of a selection of contemporary female artists. Participating artists were given carte blanche to explore their own creative perspectives; the result is seen in photography, painting, sculpture, 3D and mixed [... more]
Fourth edition of this previously-sold-out comedy success from Tall Tales Productions and The Junctiony. As before, it's a show created on the fly from audience suggestions, this time on the theme of Group Chats: "come watch a few hyperactive comedians [... more]
Mad Cat Comedy’s regular standup night at Xandros in Signature 1 Hotel, TECOM. The cover charge of AED 80 includes one drink.
Another good-looking bill for this month's Laughter Factory tour, with some ace local comics joining the international imports: John Fothergill Nicole Drinkwater Valentina Danubio Ahmed Kasid The rest of the schedule: 14 November Studio One Hotel 7pm 14 November Dukes [... more]
A pop-up exhibition by the New York-based Turkish artist in the hotel's lobby exploring migration, memory, identity and the meaning of belonging – "for me, home is not necessarily a place we return to, but something we carry, recreate, and [... more]
The Jameel’s annual festival for eco-consciousness and sustainability is back for its seventh edition in the Arts Centre and across the Jaddaf Waterfront Sculpture Park. Expect a weekend of botanical inspirations, workshops, performances, tours and family-friendly activities alongside artists, gardeners, [... more]
The third edition of the Sharjah Architecture Triennial runs 14 November to to 14 April under the theme Architecture Otherwise: Building Civic Infrastructure for Collective Futures. Curated by Vyjayanthi Rao, with Tau Tavengwa as Associate Curator, SAT03 brings together 35 [... more]
The UAE National Orchestra brings Sergei Prokofiev’s beloved musical tale to life as part of its Once Upon a Tune family series for children aged 5 to 10 and their families. As Peter’s adventure unfolds, young listeners discover the instruments [... more]
Another good-looking bill for this month's Laughter Factory tour, with some ace local comics joining the international imports: John Fothergill Nicole Drinkwater Valentina Danubio Ahmed Kasid Two stops today – this early gig at Studio One will be followed by [... more]
Final gig for this month's Laughter Factory tour, with some ace local comics joining the international imports: John Fothergill Nicole Drinkwater Valentina Danubio Ahmed Kasid
A regular Mad Cat Comedy night – “Dubai’s wildest comedy show on Saturday” at “the first purpose built comedy room in the country”. The cover charge of AED 99 includes two F&B coupons.
Culture Emulsion brings its successful French comedy to Abu Dhabi – and it is very funny, a sharp and blackish comedy about the ties that unite (and sometimes suffocate). Every Friday the Mesnards gather at the family café before going [... more]
Two further performances of Sebastian Mayer’s Hannibaby and Zarafa. Hannibaby manifests as a walkabout performance by a life-sized baby elephant puppet, alongside a workshop series instructing families in the art of creating and decorating their own 3D elephant masks. It [... more]
A thrilling, child-friendly musical-thriller adaptation of Shakespeare’s play of shenanigans in the Scottish court with daggers and added witches. The S4K (Shakespeare for Kidz) team has been bringing the world of Shakespeare to young people around the world for more [... more]
This 12th edition of the Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial has the theme 'Balance' and features 297 works by 145 artists from around the world. It's always an interesting visit because of the range of styles and techniques on show, covering traditional [... more]
A mini-retrospective for Sliman Mansour during Alserkal Art Week 2026 covering five decades of his work – “the first time since 2011 that such an extensive body of the artist’s work has been brought together in a single exhibition”, says [... more]
Curated by Suheyla Takesh and Rémi Homs, this exhibition features works from the Barjeel Art Foundation collection, including pieces by Inji Efflatoun, Samia Halaby and Mona Saudi; it also has some archival exhibition posters dating from the 1940s to the [... more]
An afternoon dedicated to Jane Austen’s novel of love, family, heartbreak, and societal expectations (which of course you could say about most of her novels. Maybe not Northanger Abbey ...) This sort-of book club with tea and good conversation will [... more]
The Mad Cat team does the rather cool Moon Bar at the Sana Restaurant in Mina Al Salam – a great venue: quite intimate, few distractions. Featuring surprise drop-ins, fresh material, and “the kind of intimate room where sitting in the [... more]
An evening of stand-up with graduates of Dubomedy's Stand-up Workshops plus special guests. Free, but you're recommended to pre-register because spaces are limited and go fast ...
Reynier Llanes’ second solo exhibition at Firetti Contemporary includes works from The Tourist and The Poet series plus the debut of Bodega, a new series in which the human figure gives way to transparent vessels overflowing with flowers. "Moving between [... more]
This is sure to be one of the shows of the year, and not just because of its scale. Ayyam’s 20th-anniversary exhibition seeks to honour a journey defined by continuity, resilience, and artistic exchange, says the gallery; and, "much like [... more]
The first solo exhibition by Emirati artist Faris Alshafar features new oil paintings that mark his move from monochrome into colour. Says the gallery: "The works explore how we alter our appearance and behaviour in response to desire and expectation, whether [... more]
The Ghanain artist’s second solo exhibition with Efie Gallery extends Owusu’s longstanding exploration of value, currency, and the social structures through which worth is assigned and perceived; it features textured canvases, mixed media sculptures, and – for the first time [... more]
Malik Thomas Jalil Kydd’s second solo exhibition marks a significant evolution in his practice, says the gallery – "one in which desire and divinity are intertwined and rendered in quiet persistence". Previous works often situated their subjects within expansive landscapes, [... more]
A solo show for the French abstract painter whose work melds the aesthetics of Western art – line, action and abstraction – with the principles of traditional Eastern art, such as unity, spontaneity and asceticism. Verdier paints vertically using giant [... more]
As part of the programming for Ayyam Gallery’s 20th anniversary, co-founder Khaled Samawi joins Myrna Ayad for a conversation exploring the gallery’s journey since its founding in Damascus in 2006. Reflecting on two decades of exhibitions, artistic collaborations, and the [... more]
An exhibition of newly commissioned and recent works by Rajni Perera, Sancintya Mohini Simpson, Soma Surovi Jannat, Karan Shrestha and Rain Wu – five artists whose work offers different perspectives on our relationship with place. The exhibition moves between mythology [... more]
Mad Cat’s standup team at their regular stop at the Easy Tiger bar in Abu Dhabi’s Al Ain Palace. The door price of AED 99 includes two drinks …
An exhibition that brings together works by the Italian artist Marilina Marchica and Emirati artist Salmah Almansoori that are rooted in the landscapes respectively of Sicily and Ghayathi. Marchica traces the imprints of abandoned buildings and domestic spaces through drawing, [... more]
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