Abu Dhabi Turns the City Into an Open-Air Art Gallery

Launched by the Department of Municipalities and Transport, the initiative is rooted in a simple idea – that culture should be visible, shared and part of everyday routines. Rather than concentrating creativity in designated venues, Abu Dhabi Canvas spreads it across neighbourhoods, shopping centres and transport corridors, encouraging spontaneous encounters with art and moments of reflection in ordinary settings.

Since its launch, the programme has delivered more than 400 artworks across 130 locations in Abu Dhabi City, Al Ain and Al Dhafra. Over 100 Emirati and UAE-based artists have contributed, collectively spending thousands of hours transforming nearly 7,800 square metres of public space. Each piece is curated around themes such as community, sustainability, mobility, heritage and urban growth, ensuring the artworks speak directly to the city they inhabit.

Local voices sit at the heart of the project. Emirati artists describe the experience as a chance to tell stories through walls, colour and form – reflecting Abu Dhabi’s balance between tradition and progress. Working outside controlled gallery spaces has allowed for a different kind of creativity, shaped by weather, neighbourhood context and the reactions of passers-by who encounter the work in real time.