Abu Dhabi government-owned developer Aldar announced plans for a new cultural district in the city dubbed “Noma,” as reported by The Art Newspaper. The announcement precedes the inaugural edition of Frieze Abu Dhabi, which will take place from November 19-22 in the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
As the official fair partner for Frieze Abu Dhabi, Aldar made the announcement regarding Noma during Frieze London. The project’s gold logo also adorned the place settings for Frieze’s Collectors’ Dinner.
Noma is the latest in a line of cultural districts that have cropped up across the Persian Gulf, from Dubai’s Alserkal Avenue to Riyadh’s JAX District, and Abu Dhabi’s own Miza neighborhood. The name Noma derives from the new neighborhood’s location being “North of Manarat Al Saadiyat.” Located in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District, Manarat Al Saadiyat is an art and culture center and one of the venues for Frieze Abu Dhabi.
Manarat Al Saadiyat has also hosted past editions of Abu Dhabi Art. When Frieze Abu Dhabi occupies its spaces, the fair will bring over 80 galleries from 36 countries to the Saadiyat Cultural District.
However, the ongoing war between the U.S., Israel, Iran, and their allies, has left the art market in the Persian Gulf in a delicate state, leading to doubts about the fairs going forward. The situation has been complicated by the temporary closure of Saudi airspace following Houthi-led strikes on Riyadh International Airport. On its part, Frieze remains committed to the fair’s opening in Abu Dhabi.