Art Dubai has announced a significantly scaled-back "special edition" of its 20th-anniversary fair, set for May 14–17 at the Madinat Jumeirah venue. The fair was postponed and reformatted due to the US-Israel war in Iran, which caused major logistical disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and spiked oil prices, hampering air travel in the UAE. It will now feature only 50 exhibitors, a reduction of nearly 60% from the originally planned 120.
Dubai has transformed into an open-air gallery through initiatives by Brand Dubai, Dubai Culture, and government entities, fulfilling a 2018 vision by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The city now features murals, sculptures, and street art in neighborhoods like Karama and Satwa, alongside dedicated art zones such as Alserkal Avenue and Dubai Design District. Art festivals including Art Dubai, Sikka Art & Design Festival, Quoz Arts Fest, Dubai Design Week, and the newly launched Bluewaters Art Festival further enrich the public art landscape, making visual art accessible without tickets.