As temperatures drop across the region, the Gulf’s cultural calendar bursts into life. From large-scale biennials and light installations to cutting-edge design fairs and museum-led exhibitions, this season is set to reaffirm the Middle East’s position as a thriving global arts destination.

Riyadh Biennial Sur Art

Saudi Arabia opens the season with the Riyadh Biennial Sur Art, running from October 15 to December 31 2025, at the Saudi Arabian Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMoCA) in Diriyah’s JAX District. A collaboration under the global BIENALSUR platform, the biennial brings together artists and institutions from across the world in a dialogue between the “Global South” and the international art scene. Through bold installations, performances and cross-cultural collaborations, the event underscores Riyadh’s expanding role as a creative capital and a hub for cultural diplomacy.

Abu Dhabi Art

From November 19 to 23, Abu Dhabi Art will transform Manarat Al Saadiyat into a global meeting point for collectors, curators, and galleries. Now in its 17th edition, the fair brings together over 140 galleries and a wide selection of curated exhibitions, public commissions, and thought-provoking talks. As the flagship event of the emirate’s Department of Culture and Tourism, it continues to bridge local and international markets while positioning Abu Dhabi as a centre for cultural exchange. 

Dubai Design Week

In the UAE, Dubai Design Week returns from November 4 to 9 at Dubai Design District (d3). Now in its eleventh edition, the festival remains the largest annual celebration of design in the Middle East, encompassing architecture, interiors, product design, and sustainable innovation. Visitors can explore exhibitions, installations, pop-ups, and workshops, as well as the popular Downtown Design fair. Each year, Dubai Design Week acts as a catalyst for dialogue between regional creativity and global design talent, mirroring Dubai’s own growth as an incubator for the creative economy.

Manar Abu Dhabi

Following last year’s debut, Manar Abu Dhabi returns from November 15, 2025, illuminating the emirate’s coastlines and islands throughout the winter months. Under the Public Art Abu Dhabi initiative, the festival transforms natural landscapes, from Al Samaliyah and Al Jubail Islands to Saadiyat, into open-air galleries of light. Expect large-scale projections, kinetic sculptures and immersive artworks that reimagine the connection between art, nature and technology. 

Art Here 2025 & the Richard Mille Art Prize

At Louvre Abu Dhabi, Art Here 2025 runs from 11 October to 28 December, showcases contemporary art from the GCC, MENA region and Japan under the theme “Shadows”. Through installations and conceptual works exploring light and absence, visibility and concealment, the exhibition offers a poetic counterpoint to the museum’s architecture. One exhibiting artist will be awarded the Richard Mille Art Prize, a major regional accolade recognising artistic innovation. 

Alserkal and Christie’s Exhibition

In Dubai, the season also brings a collaboration between Alserkal Avenue and Christie’s, marking a powerful intersection between the commercial and the conceptual. Hosted within the Alserkal complex, the exhibition presents a curated selection of modern and contemporary works that reflect the evolution of art collecting in the Middle East. 

We Design Beirut

We Design Beirut returns to the Lebanese capital from October 22 to 26, with a city-wide celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and resilience. Spread across historic buildings and design studios, the event includes exhibitions, panel talks, and tours that champion Lebanon’s design legacy and the wider Arab world’s innovation.