Artist Issam Kourbaj is curating and mentoring three emerging UAE-based artists—Salmah Almansoori, Maktoum Al Maktoum, and Alla Abdunabi—for the Beyond Emerging Artists programme at Abu Dhabi Art, which runs November 19–23 at Manarat al-Saadiyat. The artists are creating new works for the fair and separate outdoor installations in Al Ain, including at historical sites like Al Ain Oasis and Jebel Hafeet Tombs, with the outdoor pieces on view for six months. Kourbaj, a Syrian-born artist based in Cambridge, selected the trio for their diverse materials and shared focus on place and memory.
The programme matters because it provides a rare, long-term platform for young artists in the UAE, combining mentorship, fair exposure, and public art in historic settings. It also marks the final edition of Abu Dhabi Art before its relaunch as Frieze Abu Dhabi in 2025, and offers participants international visibility through partnerships like HSBC, which previously sent past participants to Sotheby’s Maison in Hong Kong and the Saatchi Gallery in London. The initiative underscores Abu Dhabi’s growing role in nurturing local talent while connecting regional art to global audiences.