Colours and stories – Your guide to street art In Dubai
Street art is a unique form of creative expression using vivid colours and pictures on walls to spread a message or a story. As Dubai’s art scene continues flourishing, you’ll find many places to see street art in the city.
Street art is legal in Dubai as it is permitted by UAE law (unlike graffiti, which is illegal). So, if you are looking for a colourful spot to get a photo for your Instagram feed or want to admire beautiful art on the walls in Dubai, you can use this list as your guide.
So without further ado, here is a list of all the places in Dubai with street art.
TOP PLACES WITH THE BEST STREET ART IN DUBAI
Here’s our list of the best places to check out street art murals in Dubai.
CITY WALK
City Walk by Meraas is a lovely outdoor recreational area near Downtown Dubai. It is adorned with the popular “I love DXB” graffiti art featured in various magazines and social media posts.
You’ll also find many more vibrant statement pieces and murals designed by big names from the street art world, such as Ron English, Lady Aiko from Japan and more.
This place is also known for its line of trendy eateries and boutique fashion stores. So, once you’re done snapping shots of City Walk Dubai’s street art, you can head to these spots for a relaxing weekend in Dubai.
AL KARAMA
Apart from the affordable apartments for rent in Karama, what makes the neighbourhood popular is the talent of a group of passionate artists who transformed this area into a colourful district.
A move initiated by Wasl Properties in 2016 saw a transformation of the Karama Souk, making it one of the most popular places to see graffiti art in Dubai. You will enjoy 24 stunning displays of art across the old commercial buildings in Karama Souk, which acted as the perfect canvas for the ‘Rediscovering Karama’ project.
The vibrant colours on the old buildings offer a delightful visual experience and great opportunities for photographers to get some fantastic shots. Here’s a closer look at the street art in Al Karama.
AL FAHIDI
Al Fahidi District is next on our list of the best places to find street paintings in Dubai. Known for hosting popular art festivals in Dubai, such as the Sikka Art Fair, the historic Al Fahidi neighbourhood has permanent pieces featuring public art in Dubai. Also, new additions by up-and-coming artists from around the world are frequently showcased in the area. Al Fahidi is also a great place to learn about the rich heritage and history of the UAE.
STREET ART IN DUBAI AT ALSERKAL AVENUE
With art, creativity and innovation being at the forefront of Alserkal Avenue, it is no surprise that street art can also be found here. The Urban Artist and Loop Colours collective, an art group specialising in murals and graffiti, unveiled a stunning street art mural as a tribute to Leandro De Niro, Robert De Niro’s grandson.
It is a 25 m mural with hues of purple and blue to honour Carlos Mare’s (Leandro De Niro’s father) loss, a pioneer in the graffiti art world. This street art was a work by various artists who Carlos Mare inspired to pick up the paint spray – and it is a touching piece of art.
KITE BEACH
If you’re thinking about a beach day in Dubai, Kite Beach in Jumeirah is probably the first name to pop up in your head. The beach offers places to chill, snack, or indulge in activities, including kayaking or kitesurfing (hence the name).
You can spot a giant street art of a monkey in sunglasses at the entrance of Kite Beach. Super quirky, right? Occasionally, you can spot street art installations on the beach courtesy of groups passionate about art and design. Take a picture in front of those vivid artworks!
JUMEIRAH BEACH RESIDENCE (JBR)
JBR is one of the more popular areas of Dubai, owing to its proximity to public transportation (metro and tram) and the plethora of dining and recreational spots.
At The Walk, JBR, constant street art displays take over the walls. The last street art was a stunning owl on the wall, but you can spot all the colours and art as you walk around the area. You can also see vivid street art while walking down Jumeirah Beach Road.
DUBAI DESIGN DISTRICT (D3)
The gorgeous Dubai Design District is the city’s art and design hub and Bayut’s home. Having the word ‘design’ in its name, you know if you visit this place, you will find some artsy walls with exciting designs.
Home to Bayut’s office, this area is overflowing with creative designs in the form of live installations and street paintings. Check the interesting photo-ops you can get if you visit d3.
Dubai is possibly one of the most colourful emirates’ and indeed, as time passes, we will have more areas featuring the talents of graffiti artists from across the globe. We hope you enjoyed this feature of all the lovely places in Dubai with street art.
FAQs about street art in Dubai
Are there any more places in Dubai with street art on a smaller scale?
The places on our list feature street art installations on a large scale, where you can stand and take pictures. The places with street art in Dubai on a smaller scale can be spotted when driving. For example, the outside of Emirates Towers Metro Station has street art on the giant pillars. You can also spot a few spots at DIFC closer to when events take place.
I want to try my hand at graffiti. Where can I explore my skills?
Want to check out a graffiti workshop in Dubai? Graffiti Dubai organises graffiti workshops for teams and corporate groups, which is a great team-building activity.
Wild Paint House in Al Quoz is another organisation that offers graffiti workshops for adults and children. You could also check out workshops by The Urban Artist and Loop Colours Collective (the organisation that designed the street art on Alserkal Avenue) to try your hand at spray-painted graffiti.
If you are looking for more places in Dubai to get some amazing shots, check out our feature on the best Instagram-friendly places in Dubai. Stay tuned to MyBayut, the region’s favourite property blog, to find more fun spots in the UAE.
