Frieze to Inaugurate Abu Dhabi Fair in 2026
73Oct. 11, 2025
London-based art fair operatorFriezeon October 10 announced the launch ofFrieze Abu Dhabi. The event is being staged through a partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), which organizes Abu Dhabi Art, the region’s best-known homegrown art fair. The last iteration of Abu Dhabi Art, inaugurated in 2007, will take place this fall before the event transforms to Frieze Abu Dhabi in November 2026. The new fair will be held at Manarat Al Saadiyat in the Saadiyat Cultural District.
“For nearly two decades, Abu Dhabi Art has reflected our vision of culture as a driver of dialogue, connection, and creativity, supported by a vibrant ecosystem of museums, residencies, and institutions that nurture both established and emerging artists,” said DCT Abu Dhabi chair Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak in a statement. “The launch of Frieze Abu Dhabi is a natural evolution of that journey. It is rooted in the achievements of Abu Dhabi Art and will carry them onto the global stage, reinforcing the emirate’s position as a cultural capital while offering Frieze a unique gateway to the region. Together, we are creating a fair that is not only international in reach but also deeply connected to the values and strengths of Abu Dhabi.”
“We are honored to work alongside DCT Abu Dhabi on the launch of Frieze Abu Dhabi,” said Frieze CEO Simon Fox in a statement. “Abu Dhabi’s cultural leadership, underpinned by its world-class museums, institutions, and commitment to the arts, provides the foundation for this collaboration. Combined with the reach of Frieze’s global platform, we can amplify the emirate’s achievements while opening new possibilities for discovery, championing artistic practices from the region, and shaping the fair as a space for conversation and exchange.”
The launch announcement comes just days after billionaire Ari Emanuel’s newly formed company Mari finalized its purchase of the art fair giant. Frieze operates seven international art fairs in addition to this latest entry: Frieze Los Angeles; Expo Chicago; Armory Show and Frieze New York, both in NYC; Frieze London and the nearby Frieze Masters, which runs concurrently; and Frieze Seoul. It enters the Gulf region market after Art Basel, which last spring announced the launch of a new fair in Doha.