About Jameel Arts Centre

Jameel Arts Centre is an independent institution dedicated to exhibiting contemporary art to the public and engaging communities through learning, research and commissions. Founded and supported by Art Jameel, the Centre is located in Jaddaf Waterfront, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

We want Jameel Arts Centre to be:

A dynamic platform in a larger world, sparking dialogue in the name of contemporary art

Jameel Arts Centre aims to be a leading contemporary art institution for the UAE, the Middle East and South Asia region, and beyond. We strive to take a collaborative, open and dynamic approach in realising original programming across exhibitions, education and research. Our priorities include nurturing artists and practitioners to produce work and research from and about the region, and encouraging broad audiences to engage actively with the artworks and ideas generated. By developing this ecosystem, we contribute to building a sustainable, future-oriented arts scene and creative community both in the UAE and through its global network.

Driven by arts and educational initiatives for all

Jameel Arts Centre is an initiative of Art Jameel, an independent organisation that fosters contemporary art practice, cultural heritage protection, and creative entrepreneurship across the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. Our modus operandi is artist-centric, yet we also believe in the unique capacity of the arts and creativity to open up space for dialogue and exchange.

Art Jameel is positioned alongside Community Jameel, and complements its sister organisation’s work in promoting positive social change, job creation and poverty alleviation across the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey.

A pioneer in supporting artists and creativity

With a commitment to supporting artists and creative communities, Jameel Arts Centre is one of the first contemporary arts institutions in Dubai. The Centre presents projects, commissions, and curated solo and group exhibitions, drawn both from the Art Jameel Collection and through regional and international collaborations.

An inspirational space for experiencing, creating and thinking

Located at Jaddaf Waterfront, the Centre’s galleries are complemented by Jameel Library, an open-access research centre dedicated to artists and cultural movements in the Gulf and beyond; as well as project and commissions spaces, a writer’s studio, restaurant and shop.

Jameel Arts Centre launch

Jameel Arts Centre opened to the public in November 2018; founded and funded by Art Jameel, the Centre was developed in dialogue with, and with the support of, Dubai Holding and Dubai Properties, the master-developers of the Jaddaf area, as well as other government ministries and entities of the United Arab Emirates.