Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the ninth edition of Abu Dhabi Art was officially opened by H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, which runs from Wednesday 8th November until Saturday 11th November at Manarat Al Saadiyat in the capital’s Cultural District on Saadiyat Island.

Shaikh Hazza commented: "The array of Emirati, Arab and international artists participating in the ninth edition of Abu Dhabi Art highlights the levels of cultural dialogue and the transfer of knowledge that are integral to this annual art fair. Events and initiatives such as this ensure that our cultural legacy is passed on to future generations. As the home of Abu Dhabi Art and many cultural and educational events throughout the year, Manarat Al Saadiyat embraces the importance of cultural dialogue and acts as a bridge for cultures in our society."

Sheikh Hazza toured the participating galleries with Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director-General, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, meeting with the leading curators and artists to discuss the array of installations, performances and artworks that will make up the extensive programme for Abu Dhabi Art 2017.

H.H. also met with a delegation of young talented Emiratis working in television at Abu Dhabi Media Company, led by Ali bin Tamim. H.H. listened to the nature of the delegation’s work, and thanked them for their continued support of culture and arts.

The opening was also attended by H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Department of Transport, and Executive Council Member of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Minister of State, Dr. Ahmed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Secretary-General of the Executive Council, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, CEO of Mubadala Investment Company, Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development,Major General Mohammed Khalfan Al Romaithi, Commander-in-Chief of Abu Dhabi Police, Riyad Abdulrahman Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Finance, Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohamed Al Hamed Chairman of the Health Department, Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Chairman of the Department of Energy,Saif Mohamed Al Hajeri, Chairman of Department of Economic Development, Falah Mohammad Al Ahbabi, Chairman of the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities, as well as members from the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, ambassadors, senior officials, artists, curators and art enthusiasts.

Abu Dhabi Art is the culmination of a year-long programme of installations and exhibitions, talks and events that take place in various locations across the emirate. A dynamic and engaging event for all ages, the fair once again offers a diverse four-day programme of interactive workshops, dialogues and performances, spanning art, design, music and dance, in addition to a diverse range of international galleries showcasing a variety of inspiring artworks and iconic installations.

Commenting on the opening of the 2017 edition, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, said: "Abu Dhabi Art is a celebration of Abu Dhabi’s thriving cultural and artistic diversity. It brings together the most innovative galleries, artists, cultural leaders and curators from the emirate, UAE and beyond, creating an ideal platform to engage with global audiences while further strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position on the cultural world stage. We look forward to four days of artistic discovery and discourse."

Building on the international offering of the 2016 edition, Abu Dhabi Art 2017 sees new and established sections of the fair curated by local, regional and international art world experts.

Highlights include the Beyond: Artist Commissions programme, where large-scale sculptures and installations will be unveiled to the public throughout Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Mohamed Kazem and Cristina de Marchi present three commissioned artworks by artists Shaikha Al Mazroui, Alaa Edris and Jumairy as part of the inaugural eiditon of Beyond: Emerging Artists programme. Gateway: Line brings together an exhibition curated by Maya Allison, outlining the connections between established Emirati artists and their international peers. Durub Al-Tawaya by Tarek Abou El Fetouh, returns with a variety of contemporary performances exploring Abu Dhabi’s urban soundscapes. Meanwhile, Street Art, curated by Fabrice Bousteau, features artworks by Philippe Baudelocque, Amitabh Kumar, and Pierre Seinturier on buses roaming the capital throughout November.

There is also the daily Talks Programme, curated by Munira Al Sayegh, which provides a public platform for cultural debate on a wide variety of topics exploring contemporary art developments in the GCC. Halaqat Fann, meanwhile, a new addition to the 2017 programme co-curated by Tarek Abou El Fetouh and Munira Al Sayegh, sees a series of closed-door meetings between students and established practicing artists from the region aimed at inspiring the talent of the future.