Art Dubai's 20th edition opened May 14 for VIP preview and ran May 15–17 at Madinat Jumeirah — delayed from its usual March–April calendar by the Iran–Israel regional conflict that disrupted the broader Gulf cultural schedule. Rather than scale down quietly, the organising team redesigned the fair as a Special Edition and made entry free to the public for the first time in its 20-year history. The decision transformed the fair's character: record public attendance was confirmed at close. The edition presented approximately 50 galleries — 60% from the region, spanning Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Jeddah, Ramallah, and Dubai — alongside international names including Galleria Continua and Pedro Cera. The guiding theme Things We Do Together integrated commercial galleries, artist commissions, and institutional collaborations under a single framework. Art Dubai co-founder and original director John Martin returned as a gallerist, two decades after helping establish the fair. "It's an incredibly well-loved fair," he said. "Much more like a family."
Institutional highlights: Barjeel Art Foundation's Pulse — a 20-work exhibition of modern Arab art curated by Rimi Homsa, featuring Mahmoud Said, Samia Halaby, and Etel Adnan. Dubai Collection presented Made Forward, drawing from more than 20 private UAE collections. The Ministry of Culture's programme When the Familiar Becomes Unfamiliar spotlighted Emirati artists. Sharjah Art Foundation contributed live performances including Safa Al Balushi's Body as a Witness — a choreographic work on how the body carries memories of violence. The 20th Global Art Forum, titled Before and After Everything, was commissioned by Shumon Basar. Institutional participation spanned more than 20 countries, with representatives from Zeitz MOCAA (Cape Town), Busan Museum of Art (South Korea), and MoMA (New York). In a fair year defined by the logistics of conflict — editors rerouting flights, retailers adjusting plans — Art Dubai's decision to remain open, to remain free, and to remain regional in its focus was its most consequential editorial statement in two decades. The region is no longer on the periphery. It is at the centre.