Frieze Abu Dhabi to debut with 84 galleries in November

The inaugural edition of Frieze Abu Dhabi is scheduled to take place from November 19–22 at Manarat Al Saadiyat in the Saadiyat Cultural District. Established in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the fair will feature 84 galleries representing 63 cities across 36 countries.

The event is organized into four primary sections: the main Galleries section, a Focus section for emerging artists and younger international galleries, Frieze Masters Abu Dhabi—which explores cultural exchange across the Indian Ocean with works ranging from antiquity to the 20th century—and Global Futures, a section curated by Tarini Malik featuring artists whose work resonates with the UAE and the wider region.

Participating exhibitors include international blue-chip galleries such as Gagosian, Pace Gallery, Thaddaeus Ropac, and Timothy Taylor, alongside a significant regional presence. Approximately 43 percent of the participating galleries are located within the SWANA region, including entities from Dubai, Tehran, Cairo, Casablanca, and Beirut. The program will also debut the Frieze Abu Dhabi Artist Award, Frieze Sculpture, and a series of curated talks.