Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz. Photo: Fuzheado, Wikimedia Commons, “Dubai Alserkal Avenue 2024-11-17”, CC0 (cropped and resized).
Al Quoz rarely looks like a cultural capital from the road. Behind its warehouse walls, however, sits the city’s liveliest cluster of galleries, and this week it is busier than ever. Alserkal Art Week 2026 opens today, Sunday 15 November, and runs until Sunday 22 November. At the same time, a new solo show by the Ghanaian-born painter Kojo Marfo is drawing attention to the Avenue.
This guide explains what is on, which exhibitions to prioritise, and how to plan a relaxed visit. Above all, it shows that you do not need to be a collector to enjoy a morning among the warehouses.
Kojo Marfo Brings Beyond the Visible to Dubai
Gulf News reported today that Marfo, who is based in London, has opened a solo exhibition called Beyond the Visible at Alserkal Avenue. It is presented by JD Malat Gallery in collaboration with FYND, and curated by the architect Ali Dioun, a co-founder of FYND.
Marfo’s paintings draw on the traditional Akan sculptures, carvings and ceremonial objects that he saw as a child in Ghana. He calls his approach AfroGenesis. His colourful figures blend human and animal forms, and each canvas hints at a story without telling it completely. Furthermore, furniture by the UAE design studio Contemporary Spaces sits among the paintings, so the show feels as much like a room as a gallery.
Speaking to Gulf News, Marfo described Dubai as “a city of mixed beauty and charm”, where professionals, tourists and the Emirati community share the same space. That mix, he said, makes the city an ideal setting for his work.
- Where: FYND, Warehouse 64A, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz.
- When: until 30 November, according to Gulf News and JD Malat Gallery.
- Hours: daily from 10am to 7pm, as reported by Gulf News.
What Is Alserkal Art Week 2026?
Alserkal Art Week 2026 is the Avenue’s annual week of openings, talks and performances. This year’s theme is Smouldering, which the organisers describe as a slow-burn resilience suited to the present moment. According to the official programme, the week includes 17 new gallery exhibitions, Majlis Talks curated by the Egyptian artist Moataz Nasr, and a moving-image takeover of The Yard screens by the CHANEL Culture Fund.
The centrepiece is History Otherwise: Women Modernists from the Arab World, a landmark exhibition at Concrete presented with the Barjeel Art Foundation. It features works by Baya, Samia Halaby, Inji Efflatoun, Etel Adnan and others, and it runs from 15 to 22 November only. Therefore, if you see one thing this week, make it this.
Exhibitions Worth Seeing This Week
With so much on, a short list helps. The following shows are listed on the Alserkal Art Week 2026 programme, and several continue well beyond the week itself.
- History Otherwise at Concrete: women modernists from the Arab world, 15 to 22 November.
- Promises and Scars at Warehouse 46: five decades of work by the Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour, 15 to 22 November.
- Everybody Changes Underwater at Aisha Alabbar Gallery: the first solo show by the Emirati artist Faris Alshafar, from 16 November.
- Feathers in the Reeds, Milk in the Mud at Hunna Art: the first solo exhibition by the Emirati artist Wafa Al Falahi, until 24 November.
- Taking Form at The Third Line: textiles, light and geometry by Rana Begum, until 24 November.
- From Song to Light at Waddington Custot: a retrospective of Fabienne Verdier’s past decade, from 16 November.
Notably, many galleries open their new shows on Monday 16 November. As a result, a visit early in the week lets you catch fresh exhibitions before the weekend crowds arrive.
Talks, Walks and Events for Families
The programme is not only for serious art lovers. For example, the Majlis Talks, titled Sharing the Sensitive, take place at The Yard today. On Saturday 21 November, Little Alserkal Explorers offers guided creative trails for children aged five to 11.
The closing weekend of 21 and 22 November also brings slow art walks led by artists and curators, film screenings by Cinema Akil and a performance by Taus Makhacheva, presented by the National Pavilion UAE. In addition, new façade commissions by Dr Karima Al Shomely and by Iqra Tanveer and Ehsan Ul Haq go on show from today.
Meanwhile, the Avenue’s Farmers’ Market sets up in the Main Lane every Saturday and Sunday morning. It brings organic produce from UAE farms, along with sourdough bakeries and traditional kitchens, so it pairs nicely with a gallery stroll.
How to Get to Alserkal Avenue
Alserkal Avenue sits in Al Quoz Industrial Area 1, with entrances on 17th Street, 6A Street and First Al Khail Street. The Avenue’s visitor page sets out the simplest options.
- By Metro and bus: take the Red Line to Onpassive station, formerly Al Safa. RTA bus 110 then runs every 12 minutes from the Al Safa Bus Terminus to the Avenue.
- By taxi: the ride from Onpassive station takes about five minutes.
- By car: leave Sheikh Zayed Road at the Al Manara exit (Exit 43), then follow Al Manara Street and First Al Khail Street to 17th Street.
- Parking: parking inside the Avenue is restricted, but more than 500 RTA spaces lie nearby. Use parking code 364C to pay.
If you are new to the Metro, our guide to the Nol-Jaywan card explains how to pay for rides.
Tips for Visiting During Art Week
The Avenue is open daily from 10am to 7pm, according to its opening hours page. However, individual galleries and cafés set their own hours, so check before you go.
- Start early: mornings are cooler and calmer, especially at the weekend.
- Wear comfortable shoes: the warehouses spread across several lanes.
- Plan a route: pick three or four shows rather than trying to see everything.
- Ask before photographing: some galleries restrict photos of artworks.
- Pause for coffee: the Avenue’s cafés make a pleasant break between exhibitions.
If you enjoyed last month’s design festival, our guide to Dubai Design Week 2026 covers another side of the city’s creative scene. Similarly, our list of things to do in Dubai offers ideas for the rest of your trip.
Conclusion
Alserkal Art Week 2026 turns Al Quoz into the city’s busiest cultural district until 22 November. The Barjeel exhibition of Arab women modernists is the highlight, while Kojo Marfo’s Beyond the Visible offers a colourful, thoughtful detour until 30 November. Go early, choose a few shows, and leave time for coffee or the weekend market.
FAQ
When is Alserkal Art Week 2026?
It runs from Sunday 15 November to Sunday 22 November 2026 at Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz.
Where can I see Kojo Marfo’s exhibition?
Beyond the Visible is at FYND, Warehouse 64A, Alserkal Avenue. Gulf News reports that it is open daily from 10am to 7pm until 30 November.
What is the highlight of the week?
History Otherwise: Women Modernists from the Arab World at Concrete, presented with the Barjeel Art Foundation, from 15 to 22 November.
Is there anything for children?
Yes. Little Alserkal Explorers offers guided creative trails for children aged five to 11 on Saturday 21 November.
How do I get there by public transport?
Take the Metro Red Line to Onpassive station, then RTA bus 110 from the Al Safa Bus Terminus, or a short taxi ride.
Key Takeaways
- Alserkal Art Week 2026 runs from 15 to 22 November in Al Quoz.
- The theme is Smouldering, with 17 new gallery exhibitions.
- History Otherwise at Concrete is the week’s centrepiece.
- Kojo Marfo’s Beyond the Visible continues until 30 November.
- Bus 110 links Onpassive Metro station with the Avenue.
