These 11 Dubai Street Art Sites Made Us Want to Be Art Critics
As a legal and finance writer, I’ve dealt with words and numbers all my life. While those things are in my comfort zone, it feels like I’m stuck in an asylum sometimes. It’s not helping that all my walls at home are white, either—but we don’t need to talk about that.
The point is, recently, I’ve been craving some visual stimulation. Some colors, patterns, or creative chaos would be nice, I thought. Luckily, a few artsy friends, who are in totally different careers, know just where to take me to keep me sane.
They took me out for some sun and introduced me to some amazing street art in Dubai. While I’ve seen some of it before, I never really stopped and looked at the details—and boy, was I missing out! Here are the best spots so you can see them for yourself:
Where can I see public art in Dubai?
There are a bunch of places where you can see public art in Dubai! Swing by the streets of City Walk, Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), Dubai Design District (D3), Karama, and Satwa for some creative visual stimulation.
City Walk
Media credit: dubaiwalls
Website: https://www.citywalk.ae/en/art-walls
Location: Al Wasl and Al Safa Road Junction, Sheikh Zayed Rd – Al Wasl
Contact Details: +971 4 590 5090, [email protected]
City Walk is filled with masterpieces from artists around the globe. The massive wall installations and interactive pieces fill the district with that extra oomph. For us, this attracts many tourists to have an impromptu photoshoot whenever they stop by.
Our top picks are Australian artist RONE’s expressive portraits and D*Face’s thought-provoking “aPOPcalyptic” technique. We also appreciate that different tools like spray tins, physical props, and stencils were used, so every artwork can be truly unique.
Of course, you’ll find tons of “I love DXB” graffiti art all over the place, which we bet you’ve already seen in many magazines and online posts. Can you spot them all?
Pro tip:
Exhausted from a whole day of free photoshoots? Explore City Walk’s long list of chic restaurants to refuel. Otherwise, we say go to boutique fashion shops to snag some trendy souvenirs too!
Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR)
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Is your idea of an intimate or introverted romantic date taking strolls along the beach? Then, we believe The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence has some artsy offerings to make your day even more special!
It provides 3D paintings across the buildings, as well as street corners and staircases. We reckon they’ll be pretty hard to miss, considering the ultra vibrant colors used by global artists. This goes all the way back to 2016 for the Dubai Canvas 3D art festival!
But what caught our attention the most is the large mural of prancing horses in the sea amid the geometric rainbow colors. There’s also a giant eagle and an owl, so make sure to keep an eye out for these stunning masterpieces!
Handy hack:
If you want to save some dirhams on gas, take the public transport for the day! Jumeirah Beach Residence is close to the metro and tram, making it very convenient to visit and explore.
Dubai Design District (D3)
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From its name, Dubai Design District (D3) is a creative place for art and architecture enthusiasts anywhere. It’s got a ton of street paintings and live installations you can enjoy as you photograph your way along the area.
We personally love the signature smiling clouds by Iraqi-British artist Marwan Shakarchi! On top of that, there are many modern buildings with quirky shapes and colorful graffiti, so we feel these are bound to take notice.
But if you’re not a fan of bold colors, no worries! There’s pastel street art that line up this district, which we think can make great Instagram backdrops without overshadowing you as the focus.
Kiddie tip:
Want your kids to appreciate art at a young age? We say bring them to D3! There’s a revamped car park entrance here that’s filled with a starry universe, planetary wonders, and astronauts that we bet they’ll love.
Karama
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Location: 18b Street, Karama
Karama is among Dubai’s oldest neighborhoods. And while it’s historic enough to garner a decent number of history buffs, several artists felt inspired to provide huge murals to make the place more enticing.
The artworks include plenty of natural elements, such as animals (like falcons, lions, and sharks), landscapes, and even space! These were placed on the sides of 12 apartments and shops in the district in 2016.
In our opinion, the epic murals brought Karama’s hype back. So if you have enough time on your hands, we recommend finding all 24 artworks across the old commercial buildings!
Savvy suggestion:
Planning a photoshoot at Karama? We recommend wearing monochromes (black, white, or gray), or neutrals (light brown, beige, or cream), so you won’t clash with the vivid colors, designs, and graffiti.
Satwa (formerly Dhiyafa Street)
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Location: 2nd December Street, Satwa
Satwa is a remarkable landmark in Dubai—this is where you can spot the Union House, where the Dubai constitution was signed in 1971. It’s pretty much where the UAE was born as a nation. And now, it’s an open-air gallery with lots of street art to love!
Thanks to the Dubai Street Museum, this place now has 16 murals on many buildings. Some of our favorites are the UAE map, golden dallah (coffee pot), and Arabic calligraphy. We think they’re a lovely glimpse to the country’s rich history and culture.
Insider scoop:
Wondering how else to immerse into the local culture? Try street food! Satwa is a hotspot for some tasty delicacies, like shawarma (meat wraps), falafels (deep-fried chickpea balls), and manakish (flatbread pizza).
La Mer
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Think your beach has it all? We believe La Mer takes it up a notch with its quirky open-air gallery! It showcases eye-catching graffiti murals and one-of-a-kind decorative art by the seaside.
Because of this, we believe the streets are filled with photo ops, so don’t fret if another group of people has already taken one wall art as their backdrop. Plus, there are parking lots and washrooms around for your convenience.
Helpful ideas:
Feeling peckish while on a budget? Spot street food trucks and stalls around La Mer! In our view, these all add to the trendy atmosphere of the beach.
Are the kids getting bored? Take them to the trampoline park nearby while you chill with a snack. Win-win!
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
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Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood is a treasure trove of historical surprises, and that includes lots of artworks. Beyond its fascinating architecture, its walls are brimming with big, vibrant murals.
There are plenty of colorful ones, but the one we believe is a must-see is the piece about the UAE’s Mars Mission. It’s all about the Emirati tradition and modern science that we think many would find captivating.
Event reminder:
Want to see more art? Make sure to visit Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood for the Sikka Art and Design Festival!
Happening around the last week of January to the first week of February, Sikka is an annual celebration that will spoil art lovers with many artistic things. This includes exhibits, installations, musicals, workshops, and even movies!
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
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Location: Sheikh Zayed Rd – Trade Centre – Dubai International Financial Centre
Beyond art galleries, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) provides tons of public artworks, paintings, and sculptures—these are all over DIFC, whether indoors or outdoors!
There’s new art to explore now and then. But in the last few years, we say the best exhibits include pieces like “Harmony of Different Voices” and “Tales Under The Gate.” We also like that both famous and up-and-coming artists can showcase their work here.
Also, note that the sculpture park is typically held from spring to autumn. Still, we’re glad that the district is open all year. Visitors can check out permanent installations like “Pillar of Fortitude” by Helidon Xhixha anytime.
Tourist advice:
We recommend exploring DIFC sculptures at night! As you stroll around, we bet you can appreciate art from a different perspective under the lights. Plus, the weather would be much cooler and pleasant.
Metro Art
Media credit: dubai_highlights_
Location: Between DIFC & Emirates Towers stations, Sheikh Zayed Road
We bet plenty of kids have thought about being an astronaut at least once. And seeing one (or even a large, colorful mural of one) around the Dubai Metro would be pretty cool, in our opinion.
What makes this art special for us is that it’s a painting of an astronaut hanging from a bunch of planet balloons—very striking! So, we advise driving carefully when passing by.
Unlike other street art spots, you don’t even have to stop and camp here. If you’re along the Sheikh Zayed Road, just watch out for the pillar between the DIFC and Emirates Towers stations, and you’ll easily spot the mural.
Expert advice:
Your trip to Metro Art for its astronaut painting could be very short. So, we recommend adding going to the DIFC, Emirates Towers, and Downtown Dubai nearby to your itinerary for a fun and productive day!
Alserkal Avenue
Media credit: rami.art
Location: Al Qouz
Loaded with shops, studios, cafes, and the like, there’s so much going on at Alserkal Avenue that we reckon having art galleries and street art here isn’t too surprising.
There are several masterpieces to see. But in our view, the best work you can find is by the Urban Artist and Loop Colours collective.
This group made a beautiful, 25-meter street art mural with purple and blue hues to honor Carlos Mare’s (Leandro De Niro’s father) loss, a pioneer in the graffiti art world.
Crafty must-knows:
Expand your art knowledge at Alserkal Avenue by going to the bookshops! We suggest taking home art books to help you embrace your creative skills—some inspirations are available for graphic design, for instance.
Also, you’re probably already visually stimulated, so why not treat your sense of smell too? We say join a perfume-making workshop and create your signature scent!
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard
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Those who want to see something beyond the paintings can look at big outdoor sculptures at Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard.
As this boulevard is named after HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (the vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai), the themes of the pieces favor his interests: deserts, equestrian life, and the local community.
Love wildlife? We feel you must see the cute “Camels” sculpture on the grass! Or if you’re with someone special, we suggest looking for the piece “Together,” showcasing stylized sculptures of an Arab man and woman by Syrian artist Lutfi Romhein.
Smart pointer:
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard is near the city’s iconic Burj Khalifa, so we say start your trip there! Plan your visit so you can peek at both the world’s tallest skyscraper and other marvelous sculptures in one trip.