Cosmopolitan and contemporary For years, Dubai’s visual arts scene consisted of a few galleries presenting the usual ‘contemporary’ daubs and rustic desert scenes for tourist consumption. The performing arts were no better, effectively an occasional visit from an opera singer or one-man stage show. But the last several years have witnessed an explosion in the arts, with new galleries, contemporary arts fairs, theatre spaces and major productions all vying for attention.

This has been driven partly by the city’s desire to become a world cultural capital and partly by demand from the new breed of expatriates choosing to reside here. Metropolitan and sophisticated, these individuals are accustomed to the highest standards, be it their home interiors, the art adorning their walls or the cultural productions they attend at the weekend. With new arts venues such as Madinat Theatre and Dubai Community Theatre & Arts Centre, and annual events like the Gulf Art Fair bringing galleries from London and New York to the shores of the Arabian Gulf, the future for the arts is very bright.