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Art Cairo 2026: Where Arab Art Meets the World

At the heart of Cairo, inside the monumental Grand Egyptian Museum, Art Cairo 2026 unfolds as more than just an art fair. It feels like a statement. A declaration that Arab contemporary art is no longer peripheral, but confidently positioned within the global cultural conversation.

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Picasso Unbound: How The Figure at Louvre Abu Dhabi Reimagines a Modern Master

In the serene galleries of Louvre Abu Dhabi, a new chapter in one of the most transformative artistic journeys of the 20th century unfolds. Picasso, The Figure — a landmark exhibition running from January 21 to May 31, 2026 — revisits Pablo Picasso’s lifelong engagement with the human body, revealing how even his most radical innovations remained rooted in a profound connection to the figure.

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Where Stories Come Alive: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2026

Every January, Dubai opens a new chapter in its cultural calendar with the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, a celebration where stories step beyond the page and into lived experience. For one week, the city becomes a meeting point for literature lovers, culture enthusiasts and creative minds, united by a shared belief in the power of words to inspire, challenge and connect.

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Where Art Meets the Desert: Desert X AlUla 2026 Unveils Its Vision

Set against the dramatic landscapes of northwestern Saudi Arabia, Desert X AlUla 2026 returns this season with an ambitious new edition that transforms the desert into a vast open-air gallery. Running from 16 January to 28 February, the exhibition brings together leading international and regional artists whose works respond directly to AlUla’s natural, cultural, and historical environment.

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Crime Writing in the Spotlight at Emirates LitFest 2026

The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, widely known as Emirates LitFest, has long been one of the Middle East’s most influential cultural events. Each year, it brings together writers, readers, thinkers and creatives from around the world to celebrate storytelling in all its forms. In 2026, the festival places a special spotlight on one of the most compelling and fast-evolving genres: crime writing.

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A Cosmic Archive of Seeing: Lara Baladi’s Expansive Vision at Tintera

In Cosmovision, her first solo exhibition in Cairo in more than a decade, Lara Baladi unfolds a practice that is as ambitious in scale as it is intimate in reflection. Presented at Tintera, one of Cairo’s few spaces dedicated to photography, the exhibition reads as both a personal archive and a meditation on the fate of the photographic image itself.

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Where Architecture Leans and Art Speaks: Inside Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi

Staying at Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi feels less like checking into a hotel and more like entering a carefully choreographed cultural experience. Rising dramatically above the city, the building is instantly recognisable as the world’s most extreme leaning tower, tilting an astonishing 18 degrees—a record acknowledged by Guinness World Records. Yet beyond its architectural bravado, the hotel reveals itself as a living gallery where art, design, and Emirati identity intersect.

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Resolutions and Refusal: Mathaf at 15 and the Power of Arab Art Today

As it marks its fifteenth anniversary, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art reasserts its role not only as a guardian of modern Arab art history, but as a living, responsive institution deeply engaged with the urgencies of the present. Through two parallel exhibitions—Resolutions: Celebrating 15 Years of Mathaf and we refuse_d—the museum offers a powerful reflection on memory, resistance, and the continued necessity of artistic expression.

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Art Dubai 2026: Mapping Contemporary, Modern, and Digital Art in the Middle East and Beyond

Over the past two decades, Art Dubai has grown into one of the most influential cultural platforms in the Middle East, offering a space where regional artistic practices meet global conversations. More than an art fair, Art Dubai functions as a curatorial ecosystem—one that reflects shifting artistic, political, and technological realities across the Global South and beyond.

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The National Museum of Qatar: Fifty Years of Memory, Identity, and Reinvention

Standing at the heart of Doha, the National Museum of Qatar is far more than a cultural landmark. It is a living chronicle of Qatar’s national identity, tracing the country’s transformation over the past five decades. As the museum marks its fiftieth anniversary, it offers a reflective narrative that mirrors Qatar’s broader journey of heritage preservation, modernization, and cultural self-definition.

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Between Shores and Borders: How ‘Of Land and Water’ Reimagines Belonging in the Middle East

At the eastern edge of the United Arab Emirates, where the Gulf of Oman meets the rugged coastline of Kalba, a former industrial site has been transformed into a monumental space for reflection. The Sharjah Art Foundation presents Of Land and Water, its first formal exhibition at the Kalba Ice Factory, marking a significant cultural moment not only for Sharjah, but for the wider Middle East.

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Horizons of Expression: The Art Events Shaping Looking Ahead: Key Contemporary Art Moments in the Middle East for 2026

As the Middle East continues to assert itself as a vital force within the global contemporary art landscape, 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year. Across Saudi Arabia in particular, large-scale exhibitions are rethinking how art engages with land, history, and movement—placing the region at the centre of new curatorial and artistic conversations.

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Shaping the Future of Contemporary Arab Art: The Evolving Vision of the Ithra Art Prize

The contemporary art landscape of the Middle East is undergoing a profound transformation. New institutions, biennales, and cultural initiatives are reshaping how art is produced, exhibited, and understood across the region. Within this dynamic context, the Ithra Art Prize has established itself as one of the most significant platforms dedicated to supporting artists from the Arab world, not only through recognition, but through sustained engagement with artistic practice.

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Objects of Inspiration: Coffee Table Books That Celebrate Design, Food, and Living Well

In an era where thoughtful interiors are as much about storytelling as aesthetics, coffee table books have become more than decorative accents—they are cultural objects that reflect taste, curiosity, and a love for considered living. For those seeking a gift that feels personal yet elevated, beautifully designed books offer a timeless option, blending visual pleasure with intellectual inspiration.

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Where Art, Travel, and Inner Landscapes Converge

There are places where art does not simply hang on walls but breathes with its surroundings. Sand Developed explores this intersection — where landscape, memory, and creative expression dissolve into one another. Rooted in the symbolism of sand as both origin and erasure, the exhibition-like experience unfolds as a journey rather than a destination.

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Lawh Wa Qalam: A Sanctuary of Art, Exile, and Unity

The opening of Lawh Wa Qalam: M. F. Husain Museum in Doha marks more than the inauguration of a cultural institution; it represents the culmination of a lifelong artistic journey shaped by displacement, belief, and an unyielding commitment to creative freedom.

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Art Basel Qatar 2026: A Transformative Debut for Contemporary Art in Doha

Art Basel Qatar is set to make its highly anticipated debut from 5 to 7 February 2026, marking a significant milestone in the global art calendar and the cultural evolution of Qatar. Held in collaboration with Qatar Sports Investment (QSI) and QC+, the inaugural edition will take place across Msheireb Downtown Doha, positioning the city as a major hub for contemporary artistic dialogue.

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Building a Meaningful Art Collection: Tips for Collectors

Collecting art is a journey that balances emotion, intuition, and long-term vision. While the art world may sometimes feel overwhelming, approaching it with curiosity and intention can make the process deeply rewarding. Each artwork you choose is not just a purchase but a reflection of your values, curiosity, and relationship to creativity.

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Reviving Jeddah’s Historic Gateway: The Red Sea Museum Reopens Bab Al-Bunt

Jeddah’s historic seaport has taken on a new life as the Red Sea Museum, transforming Bab Al-Bunt, the city’s iconic gateway, into a vibrant cultural space that bridges history and contemporary art. For centuries, the pointed double-curved arches of Bab Al-Bunt welcomed pilgrims arriving by sea, marking the final leg of their spiritual journey to Makkah and Madinah.

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Oman: The Middle East’s Slow-Travel Haven

As the Middle East continues to redefine global tourism with futuristic skylines and mega-developments, Oman stands apart—offering a gentler, slower, and more grounded way to experience the region. Rather than chasing spectacle, the Sultanate invites travelers into an atmosphere shaped by nature, craftsmanship, and a deep cultural rhythm that has endured for centuries.

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Between Water and Memory: How Dina Nazmi Khorchid Weaves Identity Through Nature and Textiles

Palestinian artist Dina Nazmi Khorchid stands at a powerful intersection where memory, landscape, and loss converge. Her practice transforms nature into a witness, textiles into an emotional architecture, and water into a shifting mirror of histories—personal and collective. Through weaving, print, and layered materials, she maps a terrain shaped by displacement, longing, and the fragile idea of home.

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Mamluks: Legacy of an Empire — Louvre Abu Dhabi Revives the Golden Age of Islamic Power and Artistry

When Louvre Abu Dhabi announced “Mamluks: Legacy of an Empire”, it signaled far more than another major exhibition—it opened a gateway to one of the most powerful and artistically rich eras in Islamic history. Running from 17 September 2025 to 25 January 2026, the exhibition brings together over 250 masterpieces, revealing the extraordinary legacy of a dynasty that shaped the Middle East and echoed across continents.

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Mamluks: Legacy of an Empire — Louvre Abu Dhabi Revives the Golden Age of Islamic Power and Artistry

When Louvre Abu Dhabi announced “Mamluks: Legacy of an Empire”, it signaled far more than another major exhibition—it opened a gateway to one of the most powerful and artistically rich eras in Islamic history. Running from 17 September 2025 to 25 January 2026, the exhibition brings together over 250 masterpieces, revealing the extraordinary legacy of a dynasty that shaped the Middle East and echoed across continents.

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A Slow Burn: How Beirut’s Emerging Artists Turn Uncertainty Into Creative Fire

In a city shaped by cycles of disruption, resilience, and reinvention, Beirut Art Center’s latest exhibition, “A Slow Burn”, captures the quiet intensity that simmers beneath Lebanon’s contemporary art scene. Running from November 13, 2025 to February 28, 2026, the exhibition emerged from an open call inviting young artists from Lebanon and the wider region to explore the theme of fire — not only as an element, but as a metaphor for transformation, instability, and latent power.

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Land, Water, and the Memory Between: Reimagining Borders at Kalba Ice Factory

Set along the quiet coastline of Kalba, Of Land and Water unfolds as more than an exhibition—it becomes a meditation on everything that moves, settles, erodes, and transforms. Drawing from the Sharjah Art Foundation Collection, the show assembles large-scale works that explore how land and sea shape identity, memory, and the fragile geographies we call home.

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Across the Region: The Middle East’s Must-See Art Exhibitions This Week

As 2025 draws to a close, cities across the Middle East are alive with exhibitions that explore memory, innovation, resilience, and the shifting landscapes of contemporary life. From light-driven installations in Riyadh to meditations on identity in Abu Dhabi, the region’s cultural scene is more dynamic than ever. Here is a curated look at the shows currently shaping conversations across art, culture, and design.

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Cairo Design Week 2025: A City Reimagined Through the Power of Design

Cairo is preparing for a landmark moment as Cairo Design Week 2025 approaches — an edition that promises to be its most expressive and ambitious yet. From 20 to 29 November 2025, Egypt’s capital will unfold into a vast, open-air museum where culture, architecture, creativity and innovation come together in a celebration of global design.

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When Light Becomes Heritage: Emirati Voices Shine at Dhai Dubai

In Dubai, a new festival is illuminating the city — not merely with light, but with meaning. Dhai Dubai, returning for its second edition from November 12 to 18, 2025, at Al Wasl Plaza in Expo City Dubai, redefines what a light festival can be. Entirely curated and created by Emirati artists, it celebrates light as both art and heritage, weaving the nation’s identity into radiant form.

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Poetry of Birds: L’ÉCOLE Middle East Brings a Dialogue of Freedom and Craftsmanship to Dubai Design Week 2025

As part of Dubai Design Week 2025, L’ÉCOLE Middle East, the School of Jewellery Arts, unveils “Poetry of Birds” — an exhibition that merges art, jewellery, and poetry to reflect on the timeless symbolism of birds as emblems of freedom, renewal, and the human spirit. The exhibition opens on 6 November 2025 and runs until 25 April 2026 at L’ÉCOLE Middle East, located in Building 10 of Dubai Design District (d3).

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Arab and Middle Eastern Galleries at Art Basel Qatar 2026

The inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar 2026 is set to feature an impressive lineup of galleries from across the Arab and Middle Eastern region, showcasing the vibrant and diverse artistic voices of the area. These galleries play a vital role in promoting local talents, fostering cultural exchange, and expanding the global visibility of regional art practices.

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"Lines and Forms" Sumayyah Samaha

n Lines and Forms, art exhibition at Leila Heller’s Gallery, Samaha’s work unfolds like a visual conversation, where each piece begins with forms laid on a blank canvas, one naturally leading to the next.

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UFO Bracelet by MAM

Barcelona-based jewellery and fashion brand MAM has created a large, disc-shaped bracelet made from raffia, which can also be used as a hair tie.

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Egypt is welcoming back travellers in July

Some accommodations around the country opened for domestic tourists on 1 June. Hotels must receive a government-approved hygiene safety certificate before welcoming guests again, and they will be allowed to operate at just 50% capacity.

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Berlin Philharmonic Digital Concert Hall

While museums around the world are shuttered due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Apollo’s usual weekly pick of exhibition openings will be replaced by a selection of digital initiatives providing virtual access to art and culture.

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Fashion PR’s New Reality

As clients cut budgets, the public relations firms that serve them are considering everything from reduced fees, salary cuts and layoffs to pivoting services and joining forces in order to stay afloat.

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Beirut Art Fair 2020

BEIRUT ART FAIR is an international modern and contemporary art fair with a focus on the artistic scenes of the Middle East and the Mediterranean basin.

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