Frieze will be launching its inaugural Abu Dhabi edition in November next year, in partnership with the city’s Department of Culture and Tourism.
Frieze Abu Dhabi, the company’s first art fair in the Middle East, will take place at Manarat Al Saadiyat in the Saadiyat Cultural District, where Louvre Abu Dhabi opened in 2016 and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, after a nine-year delay, is expected to open next year.
Frieze Abu Dhabi takes over from the city’s existing art fair Abu Dhabi Art, which was established in 2007 as the Abu Dhabi branch of ArtParis. The new branch is among several art fairs the company has acquired in recent years, including New York’s Armory Show and Expo Chicago in 2023, as well as an expansion to Seoul in 2022.
‘For nearly two decades, Abu Dhabi Art has reflected our vision of culture as a driver of dialogue, connection, and creativity,’ said H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. ‘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.’
Earlier this week, Frieze was officially acquired by Mari, a new company founded by Ari Emanuel after Endeavor, Frieze’s former owner where Emanuel served CEO, went private last March.
