Alserkal Avenue: Dubai's Art District Grows with Concrete Space by OMA

Alserkal Avenue, founded in 2007 by patron-entrepreneur Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal in Dubai's Al Quoz industrial area, has evolved from a cluster of galleries into a nonprofit arts organization hosting over sixty spaces including galleries, design studios, cafes, and two foundations. Vilma Jurkute, who joined in 2013, describes the rapid growth of Dubai's art scene. In 2015, Alserkal Programming launched to support regional artists through commissions and public projects, featuring artists like Mary Ellen Carroll, Mohammed Kazem, and Farah Al Qasimi. In 2017, Concrete opened, a multidisciplinary space designed by Rem Koolhaas/OMA, inaugurated with a Syrian art exhibition from the Atassi Foundation collection. That same year, Alserkal Residency began, focusing on research without production pressure. A six-year partnership with the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice offers internships for UAE professionals. The district balances local and international ambitions, fostering a holistic cultural ecosystem.