A true global powerhouse, Dubai has experienced a remarkable economic transformation in recent years, drawing some of the world’s largest corporations and cultivating a high-net-worth community with a taste for luxury. As the city has evolved, so too have its services and amenities – many of which have flourished within its financial district, DIFC. Among the most sophisticated additions to Dubai’s vibrant social landscape is its growing high-end art scene. Read on as we explore the finest art galleries in DIFC.
Sconci Gallery
Founded in Rome in 1977, the vision behind the gallery was to create a place where art could flourish. A place which would captivate the minds of all involved. And a place where the richness and diversity of artistic expression could truly be appreciated.
Fast forward to 2014, and Sconci Gallery had widened its cultural influence by opening in Dubai. First in Dubai Design District and then, in 2017, in DIFC. Building on its solid foundation of curating not just art but a vibrant, engaged community, the DIFC branch stands as a premier destination for art in the Middle East.
Blending modern styles from the likes of Italian maestro Luca Valentini, with works from behemoths of the industry such as Edgar Degas, Sconci Gallery is an all-encompassing space displaying works to suit just about every taste.
Volery Gallery
A relatively new addition to the Dubai art scene, Volery Gallery has only been around since 2020, but has quickly positioned itself as a space dedicated to artists who contribute to the New Contemporary Wave movement. Bold creativity and innovative perspectives are the calling card of the pieces on show here, designed to challenge the status quo of art in the region.
Showcasing both established and emerging artists, Volery is quickly shaking things up through its dynamic exhibitions. The gallery serves as a platform for new voices in the space, also providing resources and support for artists to develop their craft in line with the gallery’s vision.
Thanks to its location in the melting pot of ideas and influences that is Dubai, Volery functions as the ideal location for artists who want to explore new themes and connect with a global audience. Founder Rom Levy has been a champion of emerging artists for more than two decades and has designed an exceptional space where groundbreaking exhibitions and artistic movements are given the space to breathe new life into the scene.
Tabari Artspace Gallery
The place where contemporary art comes to thrive, Tabari Artspace Gallery has, since 2003, been a safe space for MENA-region artists to express themselves.
The gallery has given artists such as Mohamed Abla, Maitha Abdallah and Nada Baraka a platform to showcase their emerging and established talents, while also standing as a space which promotes female art. Providing mentorship, partnership and strategic global positioning for diasporic artists, the gallery hopes to reach new markets which span geographies, generations and lived experience.
Cross-disciplinary exchange is also a key tenet of Tabari Artspace, while also striving to retain the region’s artistic heritage. Exhibited artists also play a key role here, and Tabari has, in the past, showcased works from some of the MENA region’s biggest players.
7Art Gallery & 7Art Concept Store
Located at Hotel Jumeirah Emirates Towers Dubai, this gallery also functions as a store, offering a vast range of art which encompasses almost every discipline. Sculptures such as the Majestic Standing Horse are commonplace here, while Mixed Media pieces like the Hermes-inspired David & Goliath also take pride of place.
Founded in Miami in 2006, this gallery boasts a range of other, more traditional paintings and photography, all of which are available to purchase. Furthermore the space presents a range of unique and visually stunning light boxes, as well as the ‘Lagerfeld, The Chanel Shows’ photography collection, which showcases a decade of Chanel’s most iconic fashion shows.
The gallery exhibits works from a wide range of lesser-known Dubai-based artists, who cover almost every art discipline imaginable. The range of art on offer is so expansive, it is best viewed in person, so why not take a trip down to 7Art Gallery & 7Art Concept Store this weekend to see if anything catches your eye?
AWC Contemporary
With its mission to provide a platform for established and emerging artists to engage with global audiences, this gallery also has a strong focus on facilitating cross-cultural artistic dialogue.
AWC offers a range of services for its artists, including exhibition curation, artwork production and logistical coordination for those who wish to exhibit in different locations. The gallery also helps with public programs and marketing to help attract a wider audience.
In addition to all these services, AWC regularly exhibits works from various artists. In early 2025, their Culture of the Arab World exhibition was particularly successful, while the Calligraphy Biennale Dubai Culture 11th edition in 2023 featured 20 pieces by 11 artists from around the world. Each year, AWC contributes to the DIFC Sculpture Park exhibition, further showcasing their commitment to supporting the city’s art scene.
RARARES Gallery
A space where art, beauty and culture intersect, RARARES was born out of the passion of founder Marina Baisel, who wanted to design a space dedicated to showcasing mesmerising works of art. And it’s safe to say she has achieved that goal.
Derived from the Latin word for ‘unique’, RARARES often presents exhibitions such as the multi-disciplinary The Silk Road in 5 Days, which took its viewers on a spectacular journey through the five key stages of the Silk Road, including its historical legacy and the cultural exchange that defined the most iconic road in human history.
Moreover, the gallery hosts works from artists such as sculptors Natalie Katwal and Tala Altukhaes, as well as the likes of contemporary abstract artist Ruslan Gudiev.
Thanks to Dubai’s meteoric rise over the past couple of decades, the city now stands as one of the GCC’s most important art markets. DIFC, in particular, represents a hotbed of contemporary and traditional galleries across a wide range of disciplines. As such, Dubai’s financial district is now one of the leading neighbourhoods in the Middle East when it comes to world-class art.
