Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, known as Dubai Culture, has launched the 32nd edition of ArtMap in collaboration with The JamJar, highlighting the energy of the local cultural scene and the steady momentum shaping the creative sector.
The new edition forms part of Dubai Culture’s ongoing efforts to foster a sustainable creative environment, support talent, artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs, and strengthen their presence and contribution to the growth of the cultural and creative industries. These efforts also support Dubai’s position as a global cultural destination and a key driver of the creative economy.
ArtMap Highlights Dubai’s Key Events Through the End of 2026
The latest edition of ArtMap features a comprehensive guide to major events, festivals, exhibitions, and cultural and artistic initiatives taking place in Dubai and across the UAE from September through December 2026.
Among the leading events featured in the new issue is the 12th edition of Dubai Design Week, which will take place at Dubai Design District in November.
The publication explores the event’s influence on the creative landscape through an interview with Dubai Design Week Director Natasha Carella, offering a closer look at the role the event continues to play within the region’s design and creative community.
Dubai to Host International Symposium on Electronic Art
The issue also dedicates space to the 31st International Symposium on Electronic Art, ISEA2026, which Dubai will host from November 6 to 15, 2026, under the theme “Elyah: Arts Connecting Place, Data and Identity.”
More than 500 artists, researchers, innovators, and practitioners from around the world are expected to participate in the event.
Its program will extend across several cultural venues and public spaces throughout Dubai, bringing together exhibitions, performances, workshops, research projects, and specialized sessions.
The program reflects the meeting point between art, technology, identity, place, and data, while providing a platform for participants and audiences to engage with a wide range of contemporary digital and artistic practices.
Strong Presence for Emirati Artistic Experiences
The 32nd edition of ArtMap also turns its attention to a number of prominent artistic and cultural experiences.
Among them is the exhibition “The World GPS” at Jameel Arts Centre, as well as the group exhibition “Whispering.”
The issue also features an interview with curator Bana Kattan about the UAE National Pavilion’s participation in the Venice Biennale, alongside coverage of several contemporary creative practices that reflect the diversity of the country’s artistic scene.
ArtMap also highlights the work of several artists and cultural figures, including Mona Al Khaja, one of the UAE’s pioneers of modern visual art, as well as Mona Ayyash and Sheikha Al Yazia bint Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, founder of Anasy Media.
The publication also includes a conversation focusing on the professional journey of curator Alia Al Shamsi, as part of its broader coverage of individuals contributing to the development of the contemporary cultural and artistic landscape.
Dubai Culture Supports Creatives and Entrepreneurs
The new issue also reviews a number of events organized by Dubai Culture during the season.
These include Makers Days, which took place on September 19 and 20 at Alserkal Avenue and brought together makers and creatives through a program of talks, workshops, and field visits.
The publication also highlights the fourth edition of the Al Quoz Creative Entrepreneurship Forum, which Dubai Culture will organize on October 30 and 31.
The forum is designed to provide creative entrepreneurs with a space to learn, exchange experience, and build professional connections.
The season’s agenda also includes the Al Quoz Creative Entrepreneurship Competition, World Art Dubai, and a variety of cultural and heritage programs and events continuing through December.
Abu Dhabi Strengthens Its Presence on the Global Art Scene
The issue opens a broad window onto Abu Dhabi’s art scene, which continues to attract attention from the international arts community.
Among the major developments featured is the opening of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi on December 11, alongside the first edition of Frieze Abu Dhabi, the second edition of Nomad Abu Dhabi, and the Abu Dhabi Public Art Biennial.
The publication also highlights the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi and the 23rd edition of the Abu Dhabi Festival, which includes the first biennial dedicated to children in the Arab world.
In its “Major Achievements” section, the issue marks 30 years of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation through an interview with its founder, Huda Ibrahim Al Khamis-Kanoo, who is also the founder and artistic director of the Abu Dhabi Festival.
The interview looks back at key stages in the organization’s three-decade journey and its contribution to supporting culture and the arts.
Sharjah Architecture Triennial Explores the Future of Civic Spaces
The publication also covers the third edition of the Sharjah Architecture Triennial, being held under the theme “Architecture Otherwise: Building Civic Infrastructure for Collective Futures.”
The program includes a series of conversations and activities taking place across the city, exploring the role of architecture in shaping new civic spaces and examining the relationship between design, society, and urban life.
Cover Inspired by Emirati Weaving Traditions
The cover of the 32nd edition of ArtMap was designed by Emirati designer Jassim Al Naqbi, founder of Taqseem Studio.
Al Naqbi drew inspiration from traditional Emirati weaving, using it as a visual metaphor for Dubai’s constantly evolving creative landscape.
The concept presents every artist, institution, and member of the creative community as a thread that contributes to the city’s cultural fabric, reflecting the diversity of creative experiences and the way different roles come together within the wider cultural scene.
The design also coincides with the month-long celebration of Emirati Women’s Day, drawing attention to the role women have played in passing crafts, traditions, and knowledge from one generation to the next.
It also reflects the deeper connections these practices hold with identity, craftsmanship, and cultural memory.
