The UAE has fast become a regional hub for arts, culture and general creativity, and this year is no exception.
As live events are leaving the hybrid format behind and international travel is back in full swing, expect these art fairs, festivals and conferences to be bigger and better than ever before.
Included in this list are the major events with dates already announced, but yet to come are details of this year's Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Art and Dubai Design Week, among others.
Click here to find out more about the music and comedy gigs coming up this January.
Sheikh Zayed Festival
When: Until March 18
Where: Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Festival is running in Al Wathba for another few months, bringing desert festivities and cultural traditions to the emirate.
Under the theme Hayakum, which means welcome in Arabic, this year’s Sheikh Zayed Festival continues the event’s tradition of honouring local customs and showcasing UAE heritage.
New this year is the Art District, where visitors can take part in acrylic pouring workshops.
The festival features more than 15 theatres that will show several cultural and entertainment events on a regular basis.
More information is at zayedfestival.ae
Al Hosn Festival
When: January 13-22
Where: Qasr Al Hosn, Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi's historic traditions are under the microscope at this year's Al Hosn Festival, a unique cultural experience that explores where the capital's story began and how it evolves.
It takes place at Qasr Al Hosn, including House of Artisans and the Cultural Foundation, the cultural home of the capital, with live performances, arts and cultural exhibits, traditional marketplaces, family workshops and more.
More information is at abudhabiculture.ae
Quoz Arts Fest
When: January 28-29
Where: Alserkal Avenue, Dubai
Live performances, curated workshops, new exhibitions and more are what visitors can expect from the 10th Quoz Arts Fest, called Shift Away.
Alserkal Avenue's warehouses open up to the public, displaying work by artists from across the world, alongside film screenings and music performances by Saint Levant and Bu Kolthoum, among others.
Music lovers will also enjoy Quoz Encore, a collaboration between Quoz Arts Fest and The Fridge, which promises to showcase the best of the UAE's emerging talent.
More information is at alserkal.online
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
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Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, director general of Dubai's General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature on its opening day in 2022. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National -
The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature moved venue for 2022 to Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, from the Intercontinental in Dubai Festival City. -
Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri was among the prominent UAE figures present on the opening day. -
A snippet from the animated show 'Freej' by Mohammed Saeed Harib is projected at the ‘Nostalgia Culture’ session. -
Mohammed Saeed Harib, creator of 'Freej', the first Emirati cartoon series during the session on ‘Nostalgia Culture’. -
The first day of the festival was marked as Emirati Day to promote local cultural talent. -
Children's books on sale at the festival. -
From left, Tiffany Delport, co-chief executive of Environmental Operations and Educational Partnerships – Mena; Isobel Abulhoul, co-founder of Magrudy’s bookshop chain; Saeed Al Nazari, Director General of the Federal Youth Authority and Abdulla Ahmad Al Shaikh, Head of the Diplomatic and Consular Affairs at Dubai Police, during the session on ‘Careers of the Future’. -
Many regional and international titles are available to readers during the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. -
Free entry was granted to all visitors on the first day of Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. -
Students from Gems Metropole school attend the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. -
The festival's first day focused on Emirati literature. -
Many international authors fly in for the literary festival. -
The event was a more virtual affair last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. -
The festival in 2023 is taking place at Intercontinental in Festival City and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library from February 1 to 6.
When: February 1-6
Where: Mohamed bin Rashid Library and InterContinental Dubai Festival City, Dubai
The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, with regional and international award-wining authors, experts and Hollywood celebrities in attendance.
Celebrated authors attending include British-Pakistani novelist Mohsin Hamid, known for his critically acclaimed novels The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Exit West and Irish author Cecelia Ahern, known for her books PS, I Love You and Where Rainbows End.
Past festival favourites set to return are bestselling authors Jeffrey Archer and Alexander McCall Smith, Indian politician Shashi Tharoor and comedian and children’s author David Walliams.
The festival’s theme of Old Friends is a reflection of how far the event has come in shaping the literary scene in the UAE, from exposing the public to world-renowned authors and providing a platform for writers from the region to showcase their literary talents.
More information is available at www.emirateslitfest.com
Sharjah Biennial 15
When: February 7-June 11
Where: Various venues across Sharjah
More than 140 artists from 70 countries will be participating in the 15th Sharjah Biennial, which has been delayed twice due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Titled Sharjah Biennial 15: Thinking Historically in the Present, the show was conceived by Nigerian curator, art critic and writer Okwui Enwezor, who died in 2019, and Sharjah Art Foundation director and biennial curator Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi.
The biennial will take place across 16 venues in Sharjah, including a vegetable market, power station and a former nursery. As a way of marking the platform’s 30th anniversary, 30 major commissions will be featured.
More information is available at sharjahart.org
Xposure International Photography Festival
When: February 9-15
Where: Expo Centre Sharjah
This is a photographer's paradise, with talks featuring internationally renowned artists, portfolio reviews, competitions, exhibitions, workshops, focus groups and more.
World-leading industry experts, including Dan Winters and Steve McCurry, will be in attendance across seven days and it also features a trade show where people can pick up or get inspired by the latest products.
This year, there will be 67 exhibitions showcasing a wide range of photographic genres, from landscape to celebrity and automotive.
More information is available at xposure.ae
Middle East Film & Comic Con 2023
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A woman in cosplay poses with Batman at the Middle East Film & Comic Con 2022 in Abu Dhabi. All photos by Antonie Robertson / The National, unless specified otherwise -
The judging panel of the cosplay competition. -
A woman in cosplay performs on stage. -
A cosplayer with a horse head mask. -
The audience turned out in full force to watch the cosplay competition. -
A cosplayer as the Marvel superhero Iron Man. -
Symbiote x Chainsaw Man. -
A young girl participates in the cosplay competition. -
The event took place at the MEFCC Mainstage, which is outdoors. -
A girl cosplays as DC superhero Wonder Woman. -
The judging panel featured regional and international cosplayers. -
Even though not everyone entered the competition, there was still plenty of cosplay on display on day two of the Middle East Film & Comic Con. -
A cosplayer in a menacing outfit. -
The children who competed in the Kids Cosplay competition were all winners and received swag bags. -
Sylar Serag, as Bazelgeuse Armor from 'Monster Hunter', won first place in the Best Craftsmanship category. Photo: Middle East Film and Comic Con -
Ashwani Kapoor as Samurai Vegito Blue from 'Dragon Ball Z' took second place in Best Craftsmanship. Photo: Middle East Film and Comic Con -
Mohamed Farahat as Banbaro from 'Monster Hunter World' took third place in Best Craftsmanship. Photo: Middle East Film and Comic Con -
Sabie Cipriani as Nico Yazawa from 'Long Live! School Idol Project' was first in Best Performance on Stage. Photo: Middle East Film and Comic Con -
Mohammed Hasan, who goes by the cosplay name Themed Injection, won third place for Best Performance on Stage as Heath Ledger’s The Joker. Photo: Middle East Film and Comic Con
When: March 3-5
Where: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre
Middle East Film and Comic Con, the region’s largest pop culture festival, will be hosted by Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre for the second time, after moving from its long-time home in Dubai World Trade Centre.
A celebration of pop culture and fandom, the event brings together fans and stars for a fun-filled weekend that features workshops, talks, meet-and-greets, concerts, competitions and more.
Among the highlights of the show is the annual cosplay competition, where fans dress up as their favourite characters and compete to see who is the best dressed.
Art Dubai
When: March 3-5
Where: Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai
This year's Art Dubai programme highlights the event's role as a meeting point for creative industries and communities from the Global South.
It will feature a set of new site-specific commissions, alongside premieres from established international artists. Running alongside this are a conference, talks and an educational programme, in support of the development of Dubai's cultural infrastructure.
Art Dubai will also introduce UAE First Immersion, a presentation of new works from a group of digital artists, forming part of an expanded second Art Dubai Digital.
The event will also mark the 10th anniversary of Art Dubai's professional development initiative, Campus Art Dubai, as well as host the transdisciplinary conference 16th Global Art Forum, and mark the region's first Christie's Art+Tech summit, among other highlights.
Sikka Art and Design Festival
When: February 24-March 5
Where: Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
Dubai Culture has begun preparations for the 11th Sikka Art and Design Festival, which celebrates the growing artistic and creative scene in Dubai.
Last year, the event turned 10 and returned after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Named after the passageways between low-rise structures in the historical neighbourhood close to the Dubai Creek (still called by most long-time residents as Al Bastakiya), the festival brings together visual artists, performers, designers, musicians and other creatives to present artworks, concerts, murals, poetry readings and film screenings.
More information is available at sikkartandesign.com
World Art Dubai
When: March 9-12
Where: Dubai World Trade Centre
Since its establishment in 2015, World Art Dubai has become the region's largest affordable retail art fair, with prices starting at $100.
Last year, under the theme "unplug yourself", the fair displayed more than 4,000 artworks from over 300 galleries and artists coming from more than 50 countries.
Expect a schedule of live art performances, workshops, exhibitions and talks.
More information is available at worldartdubai.com
IIFA Awards
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Actors Maniesh Paul, Riteish Deshmukh and Salman Khan hosted the 22nd IIFA Awards at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. All photos: IIFA2022 -
Salman Khan arrived to the venue on a motorbike. -
Actor Tiger Shroff was one of the first performers of the night. -
Tiger Shroff is known for his high-energy dance moves. -
Shroff performed a mix of his hits, including 'Whistle Baja', 'Zindagi Aa Raha Hoon Main', 'Dus Bahane' and 'Jai Jai Shivshankar'. -
Singer Jubin Natiyal won the Best Playback Singer (Male) for the song 'Raataan Lambiyan' from the film 'Shershaah'. -
Asees Kaur also won Best Playback Singer (Female) for 'Raataan Lambiyan' from the film 'Shershaah'. -
Ahan Shetty won the Best Debut (Male) for his role in 'Tadap'. -
Actor Suniel Shetty handed the Best Debut (Male) award to his son Ahan Shetty. -
Actress Divya Khosla Kumar performs. -
Rapper Yo Yo Singh and Guru Randhawa debuted their song 'Designer' at the IIFA Awards. -
The musicians were joined by Divya Khosla Kumar for a performance. -
Punjabi pop star Guru Randhawa performs. -
Rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh on stage. -
Actor Abhishek Bachchan appears on stage. -
Nora Fatehi on stage at the IIFA Awards 2022 in Abu Dhabi. -
Nora Fatehi shared the stage with a young dancer, Kashni from Abu Dhabi, who she found via an Instagram scout. -
Fatehi also debuted her new song 'Dirty Little Secrets' in Abu Dhabi. -
Filmmaker Vishnuvardhan's film 'Shershaah' won both Best Director and Best Picture. -
Anurag Basu won Best Original Story for 'Ludo'. -
Sai Tamhankar with her award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film 'Mimi'. -
Pankaj Tripathi won Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'Ludo'. -
Kriti Sanon received the Best Actress for her role in the film 'Mimi'. -
Vicky Kaushal with his Best Actor for his role in 'Sardar Udham'. -
Abhishek Bachchan began his performance with the song 'Indiawale'. -
Abhishek Bachchan performs. His was one of the most well-received performances of the night. -
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Aaradhya dancing as they watch Abhishek Bachchan perform. -
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and daughter Aaradhya enjoy Abhishek's performance on the front row. -
Ananya Panday performs. -
Actress Sara Ali Khan performs. -
Abhishek Bachchan performs. -
Ananya Panday's first ever live performance didn't seem like one. She aced it like a seasoned performer. -
Sara Ali Khan delivered a high-energy set on stage. -
For his performance, Shahid Kapoor made his entrance with the song 'Yaad Aa Raha Hai' via a small platform above the audience. -
Kapoor's performance was a tribute to Bollywood singer and composer Bappi Lahiri, who died in February. -
Kapoor also pulled actress Ananya Panday from the audience. -
Lahiri was known for introducing Bollywood to disco and electronic music. For Kapoor's performance, the Etihad Arena was converted into a disco hall. -
Kapoor was also joined by Nora Fatehi for a song. -
Kapoor's tribute to Lahiri was the final performance of the night.
When: May 26-27
Where: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi
The International Indian Film Academy Awards, Bollywood’s biggest annual event, returns to Abu Dhabi for a second consecutive year.
The prestigious ceremony was set to return to Etihad Arena next month, but has now been postponed until late May. No details about the reason were given.
Last year, the IIFA Awards were held for the first time in Abu Dhabi and included some of Bollywood’s most famous faces, such as Salman Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Vicky Kaushal, Tiger Shroff and A R Rahman.
The IIFA Weekend & Awards also featured performances by some of the biggest Indian stars across two days, with many of the top films and actors of the past year honoured on the final night.
First held in London in 2000, the IIFA Awards were conceptualised by Mumbai event company Wizcraft International Entertainment to honour the best Hindi films and movie talents of the previous year.
More information is available at iifa.com
Abu Dhabi International Book Fair
When: May 22-28
Where: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre
The annual event features a strong programme of daily panel sessions and seminars featuring award-winning authors, government officials, filmmakers and musicians.
While no details have been revealed for the 2023 programme yet, last year's fair included appearances by Syrian poet Adonis, Nobel Prize for Economics winner Guido Imbens and last year's winners of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award and the International Prize for Arabic Fiction.
More information is available at adbookfair.com
Sharjah Architecture Triennial
When: From November 11
Where: Sharjah
The much-anticipated second Sharjah Architecture Triennial takes place, after the first was inaugurated in November 2019 and ran until February.
It's scheduled to open in November, although exact dates are yet to be announced.
The theme is The Beauty of Impermanence: An Architecture of Adaptability. Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, president of the Sharjah Architecture Triennial, and curator Tosin Oshinowo, explained how the show’s title centres around how issues of scarcity in the Global South have created a culture of reuse, reappropriation, innovation, collaboration and adaptation.
Ultimately, the triennial will explore how global conversations can be reorientated to “create a more sustainable, resilient and equitable future".
More information is available at sharjaharchitecture.org
