Abu Dhabi’s flagship contemporary art fair will return to Manarat Al Saadiyat from Wednesday 19 November to Sunday 23 November 2025, opening daily from 14:00 to 21:00. The 17th edition is expected to host more than 140 galleries from over 35 countries, making it the largest version of the fair so far. Alongside the main fair, the Gateway 2025 exhibition, “Seeds of Memory – Migration as Ceremony, Survival, and Renewal”, will bring together local and international artists under curator Brook Andrew’s lens. The fair also sits at the heart of Saadiyat Cultural District’s strategy to position Abu Dhabi as a global arts hub, with major museums and cultural venues clustered within minutes of each other. The fair now stands as one of the region’s most important contemporary art gatherings.
Gateway 2025 Seeds of Memory exhibition
Gateway 2025 will take place inside Hall S at Manarat Al Saadiyat, running from 19 to 23 November 2025 with the same 14:00 to 21:00 opening hours as the fair. Under the title “Seeds of Memory – Migration as Ceremony, Survival, and Renewal”, Brook Andrew brings together artists such as Betty Muffler, Issam Kourbaj, Natalia Papaeva and Vincent Namatjira to explore migration through bodies, landscapes, water and archives. Visitors can expect large-scale works, sound pieces and intimate drawings that reward slow, close looking rather than quick photo stops. The exhibition sits slightly apart from the commercial gallery booths, so it is a good first stop before diving into the bustle of the fair. Expect an intimate, reflective atmosphere rather than a rushed blockbuster show.
Programme highlights across the five days
Across the same dates, Abu Dhabi Art’s wider programme will layer talks, performances and curated projects on top of the fair floor. Organisers plan daily talks featuring curators, artists and institutional leaders, including short introductory sessions in the auditorium on Wednesday 19 November from around 14:00, followed by longer panels such as “First Peoples perspectives on Migration, Medicine and Healing”. The Beyond Emerging Artists 2025 cohort and special projects by the Visual Campaign Artist, Shaikha Al Mazrou, will give visitors strong entry points into regional practices. Guided tours of the fair and Gateway shows are expected to run several times a day, typically in both Arabic and English, with some tours designed for schools and universities. Weekday afternoons usually feel calmer, while weekend evenings draw the biggest crowds.
Tickets, entry and who the fair suits
Current public information for Abu Dhabi Art 2025 lists entry to the fair at Manarat Al Saadiyat as free, provided visitors complete online registration before arriving. In previous editions, general admission tickets were priced at approximately AED 55 for adults, with complimentary access for children, students, senior citizens and people of determination, so a similar structure is possible if any ticketed slots are reintroduced. Separate workshops and masterclasses within the educational programme have historically cost around AED 50 per child and AED 100 per adult, while some tours and school visits remained free or heavily subsidised. The fair is designed for a broad audience (family-friendly, suitable for couples, solo), although a few performances or late-night events may lean more toward adults. For most visitors the core fair experience effectively feels free to enter.
Driving and parking at Manarat Al Saadiyat
Manarat Al Saadiyat sits in the Saadiyat Cultural District, around a 10 to 15 minute drive from central Abu Dhabi via Sheikh Khalifa Highway E12. Drivers leaving from the Mina Port or Corniche areas typically follow signs for Yas Island before crossing the Sheikh Khalifa bridge to Saadiyat. From Dubai or Sharjah, the usual approach is the E11, taking the Saadiyat Island/Yas Island exit onto E12 and then following signs to Manarat Al Saadiyat. The venue’s on-site parking offers roughly 150 to 200 spaces, which is convenient but not unlimited, especially when other Saadiyat events overlap. On Friday 21, Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 November, you should anticipate evening congestion around the access roads and allow extra time for the last stretch of the journey. Parking capacity is limited at peak times, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Travel from Dubai, Sharjah and other Emirates
Visitors driving from Dubai Marina or Downtown Dubai generally reach Saadiyat Island in about 70 to 90 minutes in normal traffic, while journeys from Sharjah or Ajman can stretch closer to two hours once inter-emirate congestion is factored in. Typical routes use E11 or E311 to connect with E12 toward Saadiyat. Drivers from Al Ain or Ruwais should budget around two to two and a half hours, making it sensible to arrive early in the afternoon, enjoy the fair and then return after evening peak traffic has eased. For weekend visits, leaving Dubai around 11:00 or 12:00 makes a 14:00 arrival realistic without stress. Plan your cross-emirate journey around rush hour patterns rather than only the fair timings.
Public transport and shuttle options within Abu Dhabi
For those staying in Abu Dhabi city, public buses continue to serve Saadiyat Island, with services such as routes 103 and 56 stopping within reach of Manarat Al Saadiyat. From the main Abu Dhabi Bus Station, travellers can also use the line 170 bus toward Saadiyat for approximately AED 1 to AED 2, with journeys usually taking 20 to 40 minutes depending on transfers. Some Saadiyat and Yas Island hotel shuttles, as well as attraction shuttles, include Manarat Al Saadiyat or nearby stops on their loops, especially in the afternoon and early evening. However, last buses and shuttle timings vary, so visitors leaving after 21:00 often find taxis or ride-hailing services more reliable. If you rely on buses, build in extra time for transfers and walking.
Facilities, food and experience for families
Inside Manarat Al Saadiyat, the fair uses a mixture of large gallery halls, an auditorium, an outdoor events terrace, a café and a brasserie-style dining space, alongside photography and art studios. Abu Dhabi Art’s educational programme typically adds drop-in studio activities, junior workshops and artist-led masterclasses, giving children and teens structured ways to interact with the works on display. Many families choose to spend two to three hours at the fair, combining one guided tour with a workshop and a relaxed coffee break. Quiet rest areas and relatively wide corridors make it easier to navigate with strollers, although very young children may tire quickly in busy evening sessions (family-friendly, suitable for couples, solo). Overall, the site feels comfortable for slow visits of two to three hours.
Weather, clothing and practical warnings
Forecasts for the fair weekend indicate hazy sunshine and mild evenings: on Friday 21 November, daytime temperatures around Saadiyat Island are expected to reach about 30°C, falling to roughly 21°C at night, with Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 November only slightly cooler at 29 to 30°C in the afternoon and lows of 16 to 18°C. The fair itself is almost entirely indoors with strong air conditioning, but the walk from parking or buses, plus any time spent on the terrace, will still feel warm in the afternoon. Light, breathable clothing with a thin layer for cooler gallery temperatures, plus comfortable closed shoes for standing and walking, will work well. Traffic on access roads to Saadiyat tends to peak between 17:00 and 19:30, especially on Friday and Saturday as visitors combine the fair with nearby attractions like Louvre Abu Dhabi, so taxis and ride-hailing can be faster than searching for a late parking spot. Arrive before 16:00 on weekend days to avoid the heaviest Saadiyat traffic and parking queues. According to planning suggestions often shared by the editorial team behind www.few.ae, visitors should also remember that ticket and workshop prices are approximately stated here and may change closer to November 2025, so it is wise to double-check timings and costs shortly before travelling.
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