Opening November 19–22 at Manarat Al Saadiyat, the inaugural fair brings together 89 exhibitors from 37 countries and regions, connecting artistic histories across generations and geographies.
Frieze Abu Dhabi will make its debut this November, bringing an international art community to the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District. Organized with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the inaugural edition will feature 89 exhibitors from 37 countries and regions, positioning the fair as a meeting point for art rooted in West Asia, North Africa and South Asia alongside international practices.
The presentations span historical and contemporary work, tracing connections between people, objects and ideas across cultures. Among the regional artists featured are Farideh Lashai at Leila Heller Gallery, Abdullah Al Saadi at Aisha Alabbar Art Gallery, Mounirah Mosly at Athr and Samir Rafi at ArtTalks | Kanafani Gallery. International presentations include Sheila Hicks at galerie frank elbaz, Ibrahim El-Salahi at Vigo Gallery and Emily Kam Kngwarray at Pace Gallery.
The fair’s curated sections will expand this dialogue. Frieze Masters Abu Dhabi, curated by Marika Sardar, explores the movement of objects, people and ideas across the Indian Ocean. Global Futures, curated by Tarini Malik, brings together solo presentations by artists whose work engages with histories and ideas resonating across the region.
Meanwhile, Focus will spotlight younger galleries and emerging artists, including Tahir Karmali at Management, Thuy Tien Nguyen at Solo, Chonon Bensho at W-Galería and Marigold Santos at Patel Brown. Their presentations explore themes of colonialism, migration, land and memory, bringing distinct perspectives into the fair’s wider conversation.
For Dyala Nusseibeh, Director of Frieze Abu Dhabi, the inaugural edition is defined by the exchange between regional and international artists, supported by art-historical research and a diversity of perspectives. The ambition is to create a fair grounded in Abu Dhabi’s cultural landscape while opening space for discovery and dialogue across generations and geographies.
Deutsche Bank, Frieze’s Global Lead Partner for 23 years, will support the fair with a curated installation by UAE artist Omar Al Gurg in its lounge.
Taking place from November 19–22, 2026, at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Frieze Abu Dhabi arrives as a platform for encounters between regional histories and global contemporary art. Its inaugural edition looks beyond geographic boundaries, bringing different artistic narratives into conversation and placing Abu Dhabi at the center of an expansive cultural exchange.
