The Abu Dhabi Contemporary Art Fair returns in November with its 17th edition, cementing the city as a growing cultural hub. The event attracts over one hundred galleries from over thirty countries, including newcomers and established players in the global market. Compared to previous years, the 2025 edition marks a significant expansion. Approximately 40% of the exhibitions are debuting at the fair, a sign of a vibrant art scene and growing interest from international investors and collectors. The layout includes new thematic sections, such as Something Bold, Something New dedicated to modern artists from the Middle East; The Collectors Salon focusing on manuscripts, historical art, and objets d'art; and Silk Road: Drifting Identities which brings together contemporary art from Central Asia and the Caucasus. The fair is more than just a marketplace, but part of a comprehensive cultural program. Talks, workshops, and site-specific installations curated by international guests enrich a year-round program. The highlight remains the physical event at Manarat Al Saadiyat, where major exhibitions, artistic commissions, and public projects across the emirate coexist. Among the emerging protagonists, the Beyond Emerging Artists 2025 program presents new works by three local artists, including Maktoum Marwan Al Maktoum, under the curatorial guidance of Issam Kourbaj. The project is supported by institutional partnerships and international sponsors. Among the prominent galleries, Aisha Alabbar Gallery presents the Interwoven Realities project, with works by Emirati artists such as Najat Makki, Khalid Al Banna, and Samar Hejazi. Abu Dhabi Art Fair 2025 confirms itself as an exciting event: a bridge between emerging regional practices and international collections, part of a cultural valorization strategy that encompasses the ecosystem of the Saadiyat Cultural District, with institutions such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the future Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and the Zayed National Museum.
