Frieze Abu Dhabi reveals dates, director, curators and lineup for its first edition; more than 80 galleries set to participate
Featuring more than 80 galleries from 64 cities and 37 countries and regions, the fair will present works from antiquity through the 20th century to the present day.
ArtDayME: The inaugural Frieze Abu Dhabi will take place from 19–22 November 2026 at Manarat Al Saadiyat, in the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District.
Marking a new chapter for Frieze and a major milestone in Abu Dhabi's trajectory as a global cultural capital, the fair will further strengthen the emirate's position within the international art market. Featuring more than 80 galleries from 64 cities and 37 countries and regions, the fair will present works from antiquity through the 20th century to the present day.
Frieze Abu Dhabi joins Frieze's global network of fairs in London, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Seoul. Shaped by the artists, galleries and institutions of the UAE and the wider West Asia, North Africa and South Asia (WANASA) region, it will bring together leading galleries from across the world.
Established in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, Frieze Abu Dhabi builds on Abu Dhabi Art’s seventeen years of community-building among collectors, galleries, artists and institutions in the region. Led by Director Dyala Nusseibeh, the fair will take place in the Saadiyat Cultural District, among leading cultural institutions including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and the forthcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Dyala Nusseibeh, Director of Frieze Abu Dhabi
Within a distinct curatorial framework prioritising discovery, exchange and connection, the fair will feature Frieze Masters Abu Dhabi curated by Marika Sardar and Global Futures curated by Tarini Malik.
The Selection Committee for Frieze Abu Dhabi includes Yasmin Atassi (Green Art Gallery), Asmaa Al-Shabibi (Lawrie Shabibi), Amrita Jhaveri (Jhaveri Contemporary), Sandhini Poddar (Adjunct Curator-at-Large, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project) and Glenn Scott Wright (Victoria Miro).
Tarini Malik. Photo: Sarah Bates
Frieze Abu Dhabi is supported by Deutsche Bank, Global Lead Partner of Frieze, for 23 years. They will present a curated installation in their lounge at the fair by UAE artist Omar Al Gurg, whose practice explores overlooked narratives and subtle ecological changes, inviting viewers into a space of reflection and contemplation.
Kristell Chadé, Executive Director of Fairs, Frieze: The inaugural edition of Frieze Abu Dhabi begins with the depth and ambition of the UAE and wider WANASA art scene and reaffirms our commitment to fostering meaningful dialogues on the global art stage. Complementing Frieze’s expansive reach, the fair amplifies voices from the region in an international context, establishing a key moment of convening and exchange for galleries, artists, institutions and collectors from across the world.
Dyala Nusseibeh, Director, Frieze Abu Dhabi: Across the main section and Focus, galleries will present ambitious, thoughtfully considered booths, while the curated sections - Global Futures and Frieze Masters Abu Dhabi - will introduce fresh perspectives and avenues for critical inquiry. Frieze Abu Dhabi will be a catalyst for knowledge production, art market integration and meaningful participation in global discourse for the whole region.
Eva Langret, Director, EMEA, Frieze: We are fortunate that this first edition of Frieze Abu Dhabi inherits nearly two decades of active community-building and benefits immeasurably from Abu Dhabi’s long-term commitment to supporting artists, galleries and cultural production. Building on that foundation, the fair is evolving to reflect the core Frieze principles: deep attention to artists and galleries, strong curatorial and editorial integrity and a genuine curiosity about what art is doing in the world right now.
Galleries
The inaugural edition of Frieze Abu Dhabi will bring together more than 60 galleries from 56 cities and 32 countries in the main Galleries section, showcasing works produced from the mid-20th century through to today.
The fair’s WANASA line-up is anchored by galleries from the United Arab Emirates, including Carbon 12, Lawrie Shabibi, The Third Line, Tabari Artspace and Iris Projects among others. Wider West Asia is represented by Saleh Barakat Gallery, Mark Hachem and Galerie Tanit from Lebanon alongside Athr and Hafez Gallery from Saudi Arabia, Dastan from Tehran and BüroSarıgedik and Galerist from Istanbul. North Africa brings a strong Tunisian contingent in A.Gorgi Gallery, Elmarsa Gallery, Selma Feriani and Le Violon Bleu Gallery, alongside Cairo’s Gypsum and ArtTalks | Kanafani Gallery and Casablanca’s Loft Art Gallery. South Asia is represented by a large contingent of Indian galleries, including Experimenter, Galerie Isa, Jhaveri Contemporary, Nature Morte and Project 88.
Farideh Lashai, Le Dejeuner au Park Mellat (diptych), 2008-2010. Edition of 3 plus 2 AP, unique painting. Projected animated photographic images on painting (oil, acrylic, and graphite on canvas) and sound. Courtesy: Leila Heller Gallery
The fair’s regional strength sits in balance with a significant international presence: 20 European galleries will take part, anchored by a strong showing from London’s gallery scene – Ab-Anbar, Pi Artworks, Thaddaeus Ropac, Richard Saltoun Gallery, Timothy Taylor, Victoria Miro, Vigo Gallery, Voena and Waddington Custot – alongside Sabrina Amrani and Baró Galeria from Spain, Galleria Continua, Galleria Franco Noero, P420 and Vistamare from Italy, galerie frank elbaz, In Situ - Fabienne Leclerc and Perrotin from France, Pedro Cera from Portugal and Sfeir-Semler Gallery from Germany. East and southeast Asia are represented by Gajah Gallery from Singapore, Johyun Gallery from Busan, Pearl Lam Projects from Shanghai and Rossi & Rossi and Hanart TZ Gallery from Hong Kong, while the Americas are represented by Gagosian, Pace Gallery, Leila Heller Gallery and Vito Schnabel Gallery from New York and Proyectos Ultravioleta from Guatemala City. kó, from Lagos, extends the fair’s reach into Sub-Saharan Africa.
Sheila Hicks, Contained Energy, 2026. Linen. Courtesy: the artist and galerie frank elbaz. Photo: Claire Dorn
Female artists are strongly represented with galleries including Richard Saltoun Gallery showing Juliana Seraphim, Bertina Lopes, Everlyn Nicodemus and Rina Banerjee; Pi Artworks presenting Susan Hefuna, Gülay Semercioğlu and Nancy Atakan; Lawrie Shabibi presenting Hamra Abbas and Shaikha Al Mazrou; and Waddington Custot presenting Etel Adnan, Sophia Vari and Fabienne Verdier.
Focus
Focus is Frieze’s long-standing section dedicated to younger international galleries showing experimental solo or dual presentations. In support of the next generation of artists and galleries, Frieze Abu Dhabi will offer bursaries for each gallery, reinforcing its commitment to artistic development in the region.
This section will bring together ambitious solo presentations including Management, presenting new textile and installation works by Kenyan-born, New York-based artist Tahir Karmali, which explore migration and systems of exploitation; Solo, presenting three sculptural works by Thuy Tien Nguyen of automated music-box works referencing the furnishings of the Republic of Vietnam's Independence Palace; W-galería presenting Chonon Bensho, Patel Brown presenting Marigold Santos, Iyad Qanazea Gallery showing works by Jawad Al Malhi and Commonwealth and Council, presenting Dala Nasser.
Frieze Masters Abu Dhabi
Selected by independent curator Marika Sardar, Frieze Masters Abu Dhabi will present exceptional objects and artefacts from West Asia and beyond, spanning Antiquity through to the early 20th century, exploring the lasting legacies and connected histories that characterise ancient global art. For the inaugural edition of the fair Frieze Masters Abu Dhabi will be shaped around the theme of the Indian Ocean, encompassing the historic movement of objects, people and ideas through trade, collecting and cultural exchange.
Frieze Masters Abu Dhabi will also bring together specialists in rare books, manuscripts and antiquities, including ArtAncient, David Aaron, Daniel Crouch Rare Books, Peter Finer, Eqtna Rare Books, Peter Harrington, Antiquariaat Forum and Inlibris Rare Books & Manuscripts.
A rare helmet relating to the khokh ord or blue horde, central Asia, mid-14th century. Photo courtesy: Peter Finer
Global Futures
Selected by independent curator and writer Tarini Malik, Global Futures is a curated section of solo presentations by artists spanning generations and geographies, whose practices engage with histories and ideas that resonate across the UAE and the wider region. Bringing together artists from distinct cultural contexts, the section will trace connections across place, material and lived experience, situating their work within the broader regional and international dialogues that Frieze Abu Dhabi seeks to foster.
This section includes presentations by Taymour Grahne Projects with Ala Younis, Aisha Alabbar Gallery with Abdullah Al Saadi, Vermelho with Tania Candiani, Zawyeh Gallery with Mohammed Joha, whose work is currently in the Venice Biennale, Chatterjee & Lal with Arshi Irshad Ahmadzai and Marfa’ with Seta Manoukian, a prominent figure in the burgeoning Beirut art scene of the late 60s.
Further Information
Frieze Abu Dhabi’s wider programme will also feature initiatives including the debut of Frieze Abu Dhabi Artist Award, Frieze Sculpture, In Dialogue – a new annual exhibition pairing an established and emerging UAE artist – and a series of curated talks exploring collecting, the institutional landscape and artistic practice.
To keep up to date with all the latest news from Frieze, sign up to the newsletter at frieze.com and follow Frieze on Instagram and Facebook.
Participating Galleries
The exhibitor list is current at time of publication and is subject to change.
Galleries Section
A.Gorgi Gallery, Tunis
Ab-Anbar, London
Saleh Barakat Gallery, Beirut
Sabrina Amrani, Madrid
Athr, Jeddah, AlUla, Riyadh
Ayyam Gallery, Dubai
Baró Galeria, Paris, Abu Dhabi, Palma De Mallorca
BüroSarıgedik, Istanbul
Carbon 12, Dubai
Pedro Cera, Lisbon, Madrid
Galleria Continua, San Gimignano, Beijing, Les Moulins, Havana, Rome, São Paulo, Paris
Dastan, Tehran, Toronto
Efie Gallery, Dubai
galerie frank elbaz, Paris
Elmarsa Gallery, Tunis, Dubai
Experimenter, Kolkata, Mumbai
Selma Feriani, Tunis, London
Gagosian, Athens, Gstaad, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Paris, Rome
Gajah Gallery, Singapore, Jakarta, Manila, Yogyakarta
Galerist, Istanbul
Green Art Gallery, Dubai
Gypsum, Cairo
Mark Hachem, Beirut, Paris
Hafez Gallery, Jeddah, Riyadh
Hakgojae Gallery, Seoul
Hanart TZ Gallery, Hong Kong
Leila Heller Gallery, Dubai, New York
In Situ - Fabienne Leclerc, Romainville
Iris Projects, Abu Dhabi
Galerie Isa, Mumbai
Gallery Isabelle, Dubai
Jhaveri Contemporary, Mumbai
Johyun Gallery, Busan, Seoul
ArtTalks | Kanafani Gallery, Cairo
kó, Lagos
Pearl Lam Projects, Hong Kong, Shanghai
Lawrie Shabibi, Dubai
Loft Art Gallery, Casablanca, Marrakesh
Victoria Miro, London, Venice
Nature Morte, New Delhi, Mumbai
Galleria Franco Noero, Turin
P420, Bologna
Pace Gallery, Berlin, Tokyo, Geneva, Seoul, London, Los Angeles, New York
Perrotin, Paris, Hong Kong, New York, Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai, Los Angeles, London, Dubai
Pi Artworks, London, Istanbul
Project 88, Mumbai
Proyectos Ultravioleta, Guatemala City
Thaddaeus Ropac, Pantin, Paris, Seoul, Milan, Salzburg, London
Rossi & Rossi, Hong Kong
Richard Saltoun Gallery, London, Rome, New York
Vito Schnabel Gallery, New York, St Moritz
Sfeir-Semler Gallery, Beirut, Hamburg
Tabari Artspace, Dubai
Galerie Tanit, Beirut, Munich
Tatintsian Gallery, Dubai
Timothy Taylor, London
The Third Line, Dubai
Vigo Gallery, London
Le Violon Bleu Gallery, Tunis
Vistamare, Milan, Pescara
Voena, Milan, London
Waddington Custot, London, Paris, Dubai
Wadi Finan Art Gallery, Amman
Salwa Zeidan Gallery, Abu Dhabi
Frieze Masters section
David Aaron, London
ArtAncient, London
Daniel Crouch Rare Books, London
Eqtna Rare Books, Sharjah
Peter Finer, London
Antiquariaat Forum, Utrecht
Peter Harrington, London
Inlibris Rare Books & Manuscripts, Vienna
Focus section
Patel Brown, Toronto, Montréal – Marigold Santos
Commonwealth and Council, Los Angeles – Dala Nasser
Management, New York – Tahir Karmali
Iyad Qanazea Gallery, Abu Dhabi – Jawad Al Malhi
Solo, Bucharest – Thuy Tien Nguyen
W-galería, Buenos Aires, Pueblo Garzón – Chonon Bensho
Global Futures section
Aisha Alabbar Gallery, Dubai – Abdullah Al Saadi
Chatterjee & Lal, Mumbai – Arshi Irshad Ahmadzai
Taymour Grahne Projects, Dubai – Ala Younis
Marfa', Beirut – Seta Manoukian
Vermelho, São Paulo – Tania Candiani
Zawyeh Gallery, Dubai, Ramallah – Mohammed Joha
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