All about the Courtyard Al Quoz – a hub of art and culture
Discover Dubai’s true essence and diversity at The Courtyard Al Quoz. Tucked away from the bustling life of the metropolis, this cobbled alley in Al Quoz is a quaint hub of art and culture. There’s plenty to explore, from exquisite galleries and studios to unique shops, cafes….and even a theatre! Planning a visit to this oasis of creativity? Here’s everything you can expect to find there.
ALL ABOUT COURTYARD AL QUOZ
OVERVIEW
The Al Quoz Courtyard was opened in 1998 and since then, it’s been a bustling hub of art and culture. The idea behind this spectacular concept was to create a viable multidisciplinary space for people with different nationalities and ethnic backgrounds where they can interact. The Courtyard houses a variety of exhibitions, functions and cultural activities to cater the diversified population of Dubai.
Located in Al Quoz, Courtyard is home to an incubator business centre, a theatre, an art gallery, a bistro, juice and coffee bar, a home accessories store and a gift shop. You’ll also find film and photography studios there as well as enough space for artists and interior designers to showcase their masterpieces.
Courtyard Al Quoz comprises of 10 buildings representing the beauty of Gulf architecture. The buildings are composed of numerous components salvaged over the last 25 years by founder, Dariush Zandi. So, if you want to experience the culture and society of the golden city, you wouldn’t want to miss this artistic community.
INSPIRATION
The inspiration for Al Quoz Courtyard Dubai comes from a combination of architectural wonders around the world. The community is divided into Northern and Southern facades. The Northern facade is inspired by the ancient Egyptian tombs and monuments. The exterior is typical Greco-Roman with a twist of Arabian architecture. You’ll also find traditional Cairene mashrabiya houses in the Northern facade with fairytale nostalgia.
The Southern facade takes inspiration from sci-fi post-apocalyptic movies like Battleship and Water World. The architecture also features traditional forts from the UAE and Oman where the buildings have slanted walls and rough surfaces. You’ll also find an eclectic facade created from the salvaged pieces of various seafaring ships. Some of the buildings have classic French exterior with balconies, long shutters and large entrances. These buildings also have a touch of Arabic architecture.
THEATRE, ART GALLERIES AND STUDIOS
COURTYARD PLAYHOUSE
The Courtyard Playhouse Theatre was opened in 2013 by a husband and wife duo, Kemsley Dickinson and Tiffany Schultz. Initially, it was a 70-seat auditorium but over the years it has developed into a vibrant community for theatre-lovers.
Today, the Courtyard PLayhouse Performing Arts Training Centre includes an auditorium, a 40-seat studio, workshop and rehearsal room. It is the first and only improv’ theatre in the UAE with a KHDA licenced training centre. The Playhouse is also affiliated with International Theatresports Institute and offers acting as well as improvisation workshops for all ages.
They showcase national live theatre performances, improv’ comedies, kids’ storytime and vintage films every week.
- Timings: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10:00 am – 07:00 pm |10:00 am to 10:00 pm (Wednesday) | Saturday 09:00 am – 06:00 pm | 10:00 am to 06:00 pm (Sunday)
- Contact: +971-50-986-1761
TOTAL ARTS
This is a dedicated space for the arts in Dubai with the aim to expose and discover new artists. The idea is to enrich the culture of UAE where the art evolves with the emergence of other commercial galleries — acting as a interdisciplinary space for learning, experimenting and collaborating for artists.
- Timings: Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10:00 am – 06:00 pm | 10:00 am to 05:00 pm (Tuesday) | Closed on Friday
- Contact: +971-4-347-5050
THE STUDIO
If you’re looking to capture those beautiful memories, then The Studio won’t disappoint you. This videography and photography studio offers a variety of services including event coverage, food photography and professional shoots. You can even rent the studio for a shoot.
- Timings: Monday to Friday 09:00 am – 05:00 pm | Closed on weekend
- Contact: +971-4-347-1745
TOTAL DESIGN
Total Design is one of the oldest studios in Al Quoz. It is an acclaimed studio offering services such as videography, photography and advertising.
- Contact: +971-4-347-5050
HAMZAT WASL STUDIO
The studio offers in-house design and art services, community programs and commissions as well as consultancy services. It was founded in 2017 with the aim to act as a go-between matchmaking creatives from government entities, private oragnisations and self-initiated programmes. The studio has worked with some of the renowned names including Tiffany & Co., the Ministry of Culture and Youth and Dubai Design Week.
- Contact: +971-54-433-1332
THE DESIGNERS’ STUDIO
This is a KHDA-approved training institute in interior design and programming. The Designer Studio offers career focused education in interior designing with an entrepreneurial approach to its students.
- Contact: +971-50-346-0701 | +971-4-548-7474
BUSINESS HUBS AT THE COURTYARD
THE COLLECTIVE BY RIPE
The Collective by Ripe supports local businesses by offering them an affordable platform where entrepreneurs can run trials and test their creations. It is a community of like-minded people who are ready to take the world by storm. If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a creative freelancer or a fresh graduate, this is your place! The retailers at The Collective get a chance to create a network for their business at a central hub.
- Timings: Monday to Sunday 08:00 am – 07:00 pm
- Contact:+971-4-315-7000
ASTROLABS
AstroLabs is a premier coworking learning academy and community for digital companies. It is a capability building company which is working to develop a digital ecosystem of the MENA region. Over the years, the company has partnered with the largest organisations in the UAE to help them with their digital transformation.
- Timings: Monday to Friday 09:00 am – 06:00 pm | Closed on weekend
- Contact: +971-4-454-1159
H2R DESIGN
H2R is a dynamic design with a primary focus in the hospitality sector. It has a diverse portfolio and works to capture the essence of brands through architecture, identity and interior design. The company creates a unique concept for every project through a holistic approach.
- Timings: Sunday to Thursday 09:00 am – 05:00 pm | Closed on Friday and Saturday
- Contact: +971-4-380-4481
DINING AT THE COURTYARD AL QUOZ
BOSTON LANE
Boston Lane is a homegrown creative retail concept, surrounded by unique colours and lush green spaces, . It is a heaven for coffee enthusiasts, and takes inspiration from Melbourne’s laneway coffee.
- Timings: Monday to Sunday 07:30 am – 07:00 pm
- Contact: +971-54-449-2131
CASSETTE CAFE & BISTRO
This homegrown gem is one of the finest restaurants in the Courtyard Al Quoz with passion for great food and astounding art. The menu here is called ‘Modern Parisian Direction’ which offers creative French cuisine with a twist of international flavours.
- Timings: Monday to Sunday 08:00 am – 06:00 pm
- Contact: +971-04-349-1966
SHOPS AT THE COURTYARD
ART OF GUITAR
Art of Guitar is the largest retailer of vintage, fine and rare guitars in the UAE. The store boasts an unrivalled collection of vintage and rare guitars, pedals and amplifiers. Apart from the main gallery which acts as the ‘showroom’, there are separate rooms to practice, record or to simply try the instrument before you make the purchase.
- Timings: Monday to Sunday 09:00 am – 07:00 pm
- Contact: +971-58-513-7173
TALA FURNITURE
Tala is a supplier of furniture. They also manufacture furniture for homes and offices. The company also has resources for project management and are known to cater some of the most complex and demanding interior projects.
- Contact: +971-4-347-4710
Here are other retail shops at Al Quoz Courtyard.
- The Kilim Shop
- Al Diyafa
- East West Atelier (Coming Soon)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE COURTYARD LOCATION?
The Courtyard is located on Sheikh Zayed Road, street 4b, Al Quoz Industrial Area 1, Dubai.
WHAT ARE THE TIMINGS FOR AL QUOZ COURTYARD?
The Al Quoz Courtyard is open every day from 08:00 am till 07:00 pm. The timings for every establishment withing the community differs.
WHERE ARE THE CONTACT DETAILS FOR AL QUOZ COURTYARD?
You can contact the Courtyard at +971-4-347-5050 or theyard@eim.ae.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN DUBAI AS A TOURIST?
If you’re a tourist or visiting the city for the first time, you’ll be pleased to know that there are alot of exciting things to do in Dubai. You can go sky diving, try zip-lining or fly boarding.
WHERE CAN I GET EARLY BREAKFAST IN DUBAI?
Smith St Paleo, Snaffle Pastries and Farmers Coffee serve early breakfast in Dubai.
And this brings us to the end of our guide to The Courtyard in Al Quoz. We hope that you have a splendid time exploring this spirited community of art and culture. If you’re a history buff or simply want to explore the Emirati culture, why not visit the top museums in Dubai?
Want to experience the true spirit of Dubai? Then you should definitely go see the light shows in Dubai which are quite popular amongst tourists and residents alike!
Cover image credit: The Courtyard official website
