Dubai is creating an art collection – without purchasing any artworks.

Located at the crossroads of Africa, Europe, and Asia, Dubai embraces artistic and cultural influences from across the globe, fostering a dynamic and growing local arts scene.

Until recently, private galleries showcasing local talent dominated the scene, but now, the Dubai government is establishing its inaugural institutional art collection from the ground up – with a unique twist.

Dubai's approach is unconventional: it won’t be buying artworks, but rather borrowing them. While national art collections in Europe were traditionally built over time through purchases or gifts, Dubai is aiming for a quicker turnaround.

The initiative, launched by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and Art Dubai, will feature a digital museum and annual physical exhibitions of selected pieces, with the first exhibition set to take place at the Etihad Museum later this year.

The aim is to cultivate a collective cultural identity and establish an art history canon that has been missing in the Middle East, according to Art Dubai – all without relying on government funding.

"The Dubai Collection is a groundbreaking initiative, the first of its kind globally," said Benedetta Ghione, Executive Director of Art Dubai. "Contributors are invited to lend their works to the collection for a 10-year period, retaining legal ownership of the pieces." However, the physical artworks will only be on loan during the exhibition period.

A New Model

So far, 87 pieces have been chosen for the inaugural curation. The majority are from Emirati artists or those from across the Arab world. Ghione explains that a selection committee, composed of experts, curates works that best represent the regional art scene.

The collection features works from Emirati artists like Abdul Qadar Al Rais, an abstract painter renowned for blending geometric forms with Arabic calligraphy, and conceptual artist Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim.

"The Dubai Collection will create a thorough database of artworks, artists, and collectors, while also documenting what is still a relatively new contemporary art scene," said Muna Al Gurg, chair of the Dubai Collection's curatorial committee.

Al Gurg believes that by borrowing rather than purchasing artworks, Dubai can accelerate the growth of its collection.

"Building a national collection often requires navigating a fluctuating art market and engaging in complex diplomatic negotiations. However, with our loan-based approach, we expect to develop multiple exhibition concepts in the early years of this initiative," Al Gurg explained.

She suggests that hosting temporary exhibitions, instead of maintaining a permanent collection, offers an inspiring way to present art. "At this stage of the initiative's development, we see temporary exhibitions as the ideal format to engage the public in person," she explained.

Janet Rady, an expert in modern and contemporary Middle Eastern art, believes the Dubai Collection is likely a response to similar initiatives in the region, such as those in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi, where art is being promoted at the government level.

Although Dubai hosts nonprofit institutions like the Jameel Arts Center and commercial galleries, such as those in the art hub Alserkal Avenue, the city lacks institutional art collections.

"It's a developing art scene, still quite private," said Rady. "There isn’t a permanent museum dedicated to modern and contemporary Arab art, so in that regard, this initiative certainly fills a gap. In the art market, having your works displayed in a museum is a common way to validate them."

A Virtual Museum

A key component of the Dubai Collection initiative is a digital museum, designed to make the art accessible to a broader audience and include educational resources.

Rady believes the digital museum could offer international visibility for the collection. "One of the challenges is the limited exposure of Middle Eastern art to global audiences," she explained, noting that the collection could inspire young people to engage with the arts.

Al Gurg emphasizes that while the digital museum plays a crucial role, artworks tend to make the strongest impact when experienced in person.

"While Dubai’s art scene may be relatively new, its dynamic, multicultural, and innovative character truly reflects the essence and identity of the city," said Al Gurg. "Looking ahead, we aim to expand the Dubai Collection further, showcasing even more artists and their stories."