ALSERKAL AVENUE

An industrial compound accommodating warehouses in the industrial zone of Al Quoz in Dubai is Alserkal Avenue. Now, it is being celebrated as an arts and culture district with a wide array of galleries, facilities and platforms. It houses residencies for local and international artists as well. 

The time Alserkal Avenue was just an industrial location has flown away and not it displays itself as a mix of industrial business and creative spaces. There are 60 art houses, design and creative venues which have foundations, private collections and community projects. It was founded in 2007 and from then on it was gathering the region’s artists and other people who belong to different sorts of lives to have discussions and dialogues, to share their ideas and enhance their artistic values to a great height.

Highlights: The galleries here are made distinct and beautiful by arranging individual programs which represent the emerging or established artists along with some exhibitions, talks, discussions, community events and so on.

Location: Street 8, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Timings: The Avenue is open on all days except on Fridays from 10:00 am to 07:00 pm.

Price: Entry is free of cost.

Alserkal Avenue is one of the best places to explore and experience the lively art landscape of Dubai. It was founded by Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal, an Emirati businessman in 2008 with a viewpoint to bring together people from all over the world together and let them bond over art and culture.

It goes beyond just exhibiting the artworks. Artists can promote their work amongst larger audiences from around the world. The Avenue also has design studios that provide services like production and framing of artworks.

The Avenue is located in a quirky & interesting revamped huge warehouse building in the Al Quoz district. It houses ‘Concrete’, an adaptable venue that transforms into an inspirational space for art & fashion events, pop-up concerts, museum-grade exhibitions, and performing arts events.

It is broadly divided into 12 Art Galleries (1X1 Gallery, Carbon 12, Elmarsa Gallery), 7 Community Spaces (Limah, Techarc, LMTD), 14 Original Concepts (Ame Studio, Chalk, Gulf Photo Plus), 6 kitschy cafes (Appetite, Mirzam Chocolate Makers, Nightjar), 5 Performing Arts + Entertainment spaces (Cinema Akil, Sima Performing Arts, The Fridge), 8 Retail Spaces (Nostalgia Classic Cars, The Good Life, The Jewel Teller), and 2 Warehouse Takeovers (Fashion Exclusive UAE, Tamashee). The space also houses some art-based non-profits like Ishara Art Foundation, Jean-Paul Najar Foundation and Jean-Paul Najar Foundation.

Regional and International visitors are privy to eclectic experiences like Pop-up exhibition by Arjowiggins, While We Wait by Elias and Yousef Anastas, Adapt to Survive: Notes from the Future, The Shortest Distance Between us, etc. It also holds events like Dubai Art Week, Majlis Talks, etc. each year.

Alserkal Avenue regularly conducts free road trips that take people across the UAE to the latest art events, performances, screenings, and other cultural initiatives.

How To Reach

Alserkal Avenue is located around 22.5 kilometres (25 minutes depending on the traffic) from Dubai International Airport. The fastest way to reach is via Sheikh Zayed Road/ E11. Once you cross the airport Road/ D89 and the Al Khail Road/ D 68, you will need to turn right into the 17thStreet.

Best Time To Visit

Best time to visit Alserkal Avenue is between November to March. This is when the heat and humidity are at their lowest. Also, during the winter night-time, Art Nights are held at the Avenue, which should not be missed. This is a time when street food vendors, artists, musicians, and art educators come together in a festive ambience and lit up outdoors.

Other Essential Information

-Location: Street 8, Al Quoz 1, Dubai.

-Timings: Sunday till Thursday: 10:00 am until 7:00 pm. Alserkal Avenue is closed on Friday.

-Price (for locals and foreigners): The entry is free to Alserkal Avenue for locals as well as foreigners

Cafes in Alserkal Avenue

1. Nightjar: This is a boutique coffee shop specialising in Arabic coffee as well as delicious brews from Rwanda, Colombia, and Burundi. It serves a huge range of salads, sides, soft brewed hot and cold blended coffees, and non-alcoholic ginger beers and mocktails. Located in Warehouse 62, it also doubles up as an event room, training facility, and even a party place.

2. Mirzam Chocolate Makers: Mirzam specialises in creating real bean to bar chocolates. Either pick up a few slabs of these decadent chocolates or indulge in their huge range of lattes, affogato, and orange flavoured cold drip coffee. Don’t miss their chocolate-based drinks like Moroccan Mint Milkshake and Iced Hot Chocolate. It is located in Warehouse 70. 

3. Wild & The Moon: Serving some of the best organic food in the area, Wild & The Moon is a pretty popular café in the Avenue. Its foods and juices are organic, cold-pressed, plant-based and gluten-free. Try the Earth Bowl, Soba Noodles, Chia Puddings, and Matcha Bar while here. It is located in Warehouse 77.

4. Project Chaiwala: The place serves tea brews along with the most popular street foods from around the world. Don’t miss to try Chais like Karak, Masala, Zafrani, and Suleimani. Other popular options are cold raw Matcha and Turmeric Latte. It is located within Cinema Akil at Warehouse 68.

5. Techarc: This quaintly charming café serves a huge range of teas, frozen blends, mojitos, cold coffees, hot coffees, fruit-based smoothies, pastries, and frozen bowls. Don’t miss the Flat White, Iced Rose Latte, Iced Spanish Latte, and Toffee Cream Latte. It is located in Warehouse 25.

6. Appetite: The Shop: Located in the A4 Space, this eco-friendly café is popular for its organic juices, sodas, pure in house blends of coffees and organic teas. This café serves a huge range of salads, breakfast pots that include chia seed puddings & healthy rolls, sumptuous chocolate and banana cookies, and even Protein Power Pots. 

Tips for Visiting Alserkal Avenue

- Alserkal Avenue will mainly appeal to people who are interested in arts- performing & visual, culture, and meeting artists from around the world.

- Before you plan to attend an exhibition or event, make sure to check its exact timings and if you need to book your presence in advance.

- Please check with the warehouse curator before clicking pictures of the artworks. 

- Adhere to the rules and regulations of timings and plan your visit accordingly.

- Every warehouse and gallery has different opening and closing timings and days. Make sure to check that before you visit the Avenue.

- The timings during Ramadan change. Make sure to confirm beforehand to avoid any inconvenience.