Frieze, the London-based art fair organizer, announced it will launch Frieze Abu Dhabi in November 2026, partnering with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). The new fair will replace the existing Abu Dhabi Art fair, which has run since 2007, and will take place at Manarat Al Saadiyat in the Saadiyat Cultural District. The announcement follows Frieze's recent acquisition by Mari, a company founded by Ari Emanuel, and comes amid a wave of international art fair expansions in the Gulf region, including Art Basel's new fair in Doha.
The launch of Frieze Abu Dhabi marks the first major initiative under Frieze's new ownership and signals Abu Dhabi's ambition to solidify its status as a global cultural capital. The fair will join a growing arts ecosystem in the emirate, which includes the Louvre Abu Dhabi, NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery, and the forthcoming Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. This move intensifies competition among international art fairs for a foothold in the wealthy Gulf market, following Art Basel's recent entry into Doha, and reflects the region's increasing influence in the global art market.