His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan inaugurated the 16th edition of Abu Dhabi Art on November 19, 2024, marking a significant event in the region's cultural calendar.

The fair runs until November 24, 2024, at Manarat Al Saadiyat, featuring a revamped layout with three new sections: 'Something Bold, Something New,' 'The Collectors Salon,' and 'Silk Road: Drifting Identities.'

This year's edition showcases 104 galleries from 31 countries, making it the largest and most cosmopolitan fair yet, with over 1,500 artworks on display.

Notably, approximately 40% of the galleries participating this year are first-time entrants, reflecting a significant expansion in the UAE's art market.

His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak emphasized the fair's importance in showcasing Abu Dhabi as a cultural center and connecting it to global art discourse.

The event aims to foster creativity, support local talent, and strengthen cross-cultural ties through various artistic initiatives.

The fair is expected to attract increased collector interest, particularly with upcoming cultural institutions like the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum set to open in 2025.

Saudi Arabia is also enhancing its art market, with Sotheby's and Christie's opening new offices, and Sotheby's planning the Kingdom's first live auction in February 2025.

Coinciding with the fair is the inaugural Public Abu Dhabi Biennial, a state-funded initiative aimed at enhancing the UAE's cultural landscape and international art presence.

Among the notable artworks, a poignant mixed-media sculpture titled Bū-Daryā by Kuwaiti artist Jasem Alsanea symbolizes the region's pearl-diving history and the impact of the oil boom.

Major sales on the opening day included a work by Malian artist Abdoulaye Konaté, sold for between $200,000 and $250,000 to an international museum.

This year, forty-two new galleries, including participants from Qatar, Kuwait, and Kazakhstan, are showcasing their works for the first time, further diversifying the fair.