Your evening at Art Dubai
The halls have closed. Three works are on hold until Sunday, the gallerist from Milan has already messaged, the catalogue is still on the counter. What comes next is the part of an April day people actually fly in for: dinner on the pier at Al Qasr, a gallery reception in Al Quoz, a late conversation on a terrace where half the table knows each other from Basel and Venice. One question: spend it alone with the catalogue — or have someone beside you who holds the table and doesn't confuse Bawwaba with Modern. We're the second option. In Dubai since 2015.
Dinner
Pierchic on the Al Qasr pier. Zheng He's at Mina A'Salam. Ossiano at Atlantis. A table over the water ten minutes from the fair — no drive across town.
Opening
Gallery receptions run through every fair day. The dress code is softer than business — colour belongs here. In the room she can talk about what she has seen.
Continuation
If the evening runs past midnight — the schedule is settled beforehand. After that it's the guest's call.
NDA for public guests
Models sign a non-disclosure agreement. Photos from meetings are never published — not once.
Talks about art
Not an art historian and never pretends to be one. But she knows the gallery names and the difference between the sections — at an opening that shows immediately.
Chat lives 72 hours
Then it's deleted. That's been the standard since 2018 — not an option on request.
Video verification
Who's in the photo is who arrives. No match — the model doesn't go.
About the forum
Art Dubai has run since 2007. The first edition opened as the Gulf Art Fair, the idea of London gallerist John Martin and Ben Floyd, who had noticed something simple: there were six hundred art fairs in the world and not one in the Middle East. A year later it took the name Art Dubai, and it has never changed venue — Madinat Jumeirah has hosted it for two decades.
There are four sections. Contemporary is the core, galleries from across the world. Modern covers twentieth-century masters of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, many still underpriced internationally. Bawwaba — "gateway" in Arabic — presents solo projects made for the fair itself. Digital, launched in 2022, is the only permanent digital section at a major international fair. Alongside them runs the Global Art Forum, the fair's talks programme.
The scale of recent years: 2023 brought more than 130 galleries from 40+ countries, 2024 over 120 from 60+ cities, 2025 again 120+ from 65+ cities. The 2026 edition marked twenty years of the fair. It was moved from April to May and staged in a reduced format — a few dozen galleries instead of well over a hundred, free entry to the public days — and still set a visitor record of more than 25,000. The organizer is Art Dubai Group; Benedetta Ghione is executive director, Dunja Gottweis directs the fair.
The crowd here is not a forum crowd, and that matters. The rhythm is different: the halls open in the afternoon, and the social half of the day starts about when a business conference is emptying into hotel lobbies. The conversation is different: an artist's name, a gallery, a biennial, the provenance of a work. And so is the dress code — a business suit at an opening simply reads as dull, while colour and character work in your favour.
We have worked in Dubai since 2015 and run the art week separately from the forum calendar. It draws on a different roster: women for whom a conversation about art is no burden, and who know how to listen when the man across the table has been building a collection for thirty years. Nobody performs the art historian — that shows within two minutes.
120+
galleries per edition
25 000+
visitors on public days
since 2007
running every year
Forum at a glance
| Forum | Art Dubai 2027 |
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| City | Dubai |
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| Venue | Madinat Jumeirah |
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| Dates | April 7–11 2027 |
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| Format | Companion for dinner/opening/evening |
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| Languages | English · Russian · Arabic |
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| Booking lead time | two weeks ideal; three days minimum |
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| Selection | 2–3 profiles for your evening |
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How we operate during the forum
In ordinary times we take bookings a day ahead. During Art Dubai week — no. April in Dubai is high season even without a fair, the Jumeirah hotels run full, and the models who can carry a social evening in English are booked early.
— The ideal lead time is two weeks before April 7. In that window we settle everything: type, languages, days, venues, dress code, photography limits.
— The minimum lead time is three days. We'll take it, but the choice narrows to whoever is free.
— Same-day — only if a slot is open. On April 7–11 that's rare. Usually the answer is "today won't work, there's an option for tomorrow."
The languages we keep for the art week:
- English — native or close to it; it's the baseline for the fair and its public
- Arabic — a dedicated roster for guests and families from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar
- Russian — for collectors from the CIS, more of whom are in Dubai every year
- French and Italian — on request, useful with European gallerists
What we do without being asked:
- Agree the dress code for the specific evening. A gallery reception in Al Quoz and a dinner at Al Qasr are two different looks.
- Work out logistics from your hotel. Staying inside Madinat Jumeirah, the fair is a walk away and no car is needed that evening.
- Settle the photography rules in advance. Openings are full of cameras; if you'd rather not appear in someone else's stories, that's handled at the door.
- Keep the local context in mind. Dubai has its own rules in public, and in public we behave accordingly.
- Don't use the guest's work chat during the evening. All questions go through our manager, not the model.
Where guests stay
Art Dubai guests cluster tightly around the venue, and the whole point of April here is not having to drive. Inside Madinat Jumeirah people reach the entrance on foot or by abra along the canals, which changes the shape of an evening. We work with every address in the city, but these are the ones where we have relationships with the concierges:
✦
Jumeirah Al Qasr
Madinat Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim 3
The most convenient address of the week: a walk across the grounds to the halls, ten minutes along the canal to Pierchic on its pier. You can go up to change after closing and be back for dinner without a car.
✦
Jumeirah Mina A'Salam
Madinat Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim 3
The neighbouring hotel in the same complex, closer to the beach and quieter in temperament. Zheng He's and the beachside Shimmers are here — the evening never has to leave the perimeter.
Burj Al Arab
Jumeirah Road, Umm Suqeim 3
The sail-shaped tower next door to Madinat Jumeirah: five minutes by car to the fair. Chosen by guests from the Gulf and by those for whom the address matters in itself.
Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach
Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah 2
Closer to the city: fifteen minutes to the fair and the same the other way to DIFC with its galleries and auction houses. Coya is downstairs, and half the art crowd ends up there after the openings.
✦
One&Only Royal Mirage
Al Sufouh Road, between Madinat Jumeirah and Dubai Marina. Low-rise, large gardens, more privacy than the towers offer. Ten to fifteen minutes to the fair. For guests who spend the day in the halls and want quiet after it.
Who you can spend the night with at these hotels
A hotel suite is only half of the evening. Below — companions available during the forum in Dubai. Choose a face; the manager confirms whether she is free for your dates.
Business dinner with Olivia
from $2,000
Weekend with Alisa
from $2,000
Business dinner with Violetta
from $2,000
Airport meeting with Natalia
from $1,500
Date with Oksana · 2 hours
from $1,500
Romantic evening with Serafima
from $2,000
Date with Marta · 2 hours
from $1,500
Weekend with Liel
from $2,000
Date with Inna · 4 hours
from $2,000
Date with Marina · 2 hours
from $1,500
Rooftop date with Alex
from $2,000
Business dinner with Evelina
from $2,000
Forum day logistics
Logistics during Art Dubai week are simpler than at most forums: everything orbits a single point on the Jumeirah coast. A few things are worth knowing in advance.
The day starts late.
Art Dubai is not a morning exhibition. The halls traditionally open in the afternoon; in 2026 the public days ran 2pm to 9pm, with the final day from noon to six. The organizer publishes the exact hours closer to the dates. The consequence is simple: your morning stays free, and the evening programme shifts an hour or two later than you'd expect at a business event. We book dinner for 9–10pm, not 7pm.
Transfers.
Madinat Jumeirah sits on Al Sufouh Road in Umm Suqeim 3. To DIFC with its galleries and auction offices it's 20–25 minutes with clear roads, up to forty at peak. To Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz — 15–20 minutes; to Palm Jumeirah about 20; to DXB airport 30–35. The nearest metro is Mall of the Emirates, but art-week guests almost always travel by car. Inside the complex abras run between the buildings: the walking distances are short, but in the heat and in heels they're still distances, so build the boat into the timing.
The evening.
The interesting part doesn't happen in the halls: gallery receptions, dinners by invitation, openings in Al Quoz. The restaurants in use those days — Pierchic and Zheng He's inside Madinat, Coya at the Four Seasons, Zuma and La Petite Maison and Gaia in DIFC, Nobu and Ossiano at Atlantis. Late formats on the Marina rooftops we won't put in writing; the manager shares the current list.
Weather.
April is the last comfortable month before summer: 22–25 degrees in the evening, terraces working at full strength. By late May that's gone. Ramadan in 2027 falls in February and March and does not overlap the fair.
Back to the hotel after midnight.
Normal for an art week, where the nights simply run later. We agree the schedule in advance: either the model accompanies you to the hotel, or you say goodbye at the restaurant. It's the guest's call.
Who it's for
- Collectors
- Gallerists and curators
- Guests from the Gulf
- Art investors
Archive of past years
2026
May 14–17
twentieth-anniversary edition — moved from April and staged in a reduced format
2025
April 18–20
120+ galleries from 65+ cities — the first year after the fair moved to April
2024
March 1–3
17th edition — 120+ galleries and the third run of the Digital section
Art Dubai is one of the weeks we work year after year. A short chronicle:
Art Dubai 2024 (March 1–3, previews February 28–29) — the 17th edition: more than 120 galleries from 60+ cities and forty countries, the third run of the Digital section. The fair was still on its March calendar, close to the spring break in the Gulf, and the evenings skewed more towards family.
Art Dubai 2025 (April 18–20, previews April 16–17) — the move to April. 120+ galleries from 65+ cities, thirty first-time participants, Bawwaba curated by Mirjam Varadinis, Modern by Magalí Arriola and Nada Shabout. Our first April art week taught us the main thing: requests don't come "for the fair", they come for one specific evening.
Art Dubai 2026 (May 14–17) — the twentieth-anniversary edition. It had been set for April 17–19, but with the regional situation the organizer moved it to May and ran it in a reduced format: a few dozen galleries rather than well over a hundred, with free entry. Attendance still hit a record of more than 25,000. The lesson: May heat pushes the social half indoors and the demand for terraces all but disappears.
Art Dubai 2027 (April 7–11) — the fair returns to April at the same venue. The dates were announced at the close of the 2026 edition; the final day-by-day schedule is published closer to the event, so check artdubai.ae. By established practice the first days are invitation-only previews and the public days fall towards the weekend.
Key facts
- Art Dubai 2027 runs April 7–11, 2027 in Dubai; the venue is Madinat Jumeirah, Al Sufouh Road, Umm Suqeim 3.
- The split between invitation-only preview days and public days is published by the organizer closer to the event; check artdubai.ae.
- Art Dubai has run since 2007: the first edition was the Gulf Art Fair, the name Art Dubai dates from 2008, and the venue has never changed. The organizer is Art Dubai Group.
- Sections: Contemporary, Modern, Bawwaba ("gateway" in Arabic) and Digital. The talks programme is the Global Art Forum. The Digital section launched in 2022.
- Art Dubai 2023 (March 1–5) — the 16th edition, more than 130 galleries from 40+ countries.
- Art Dubai 2024 (March 1–3, previews February 28–29) — the 17th edition, 120+ galleries from 60+ cities.
- Art Dubai 2025 (April 18–20, previews April 16–17) — 120+ galleries from 65+ cities and thirty first-time participants.
- Art Dubai 2026 (May 14–17) — the twentieth-anniversary edition, moved from April 17–19 and staged in a reduced format with free entry; a record of more than 25,000 visitors on the public days.
- The audience is collectors, gallerists, curators, families from the Gulf and art investors, with many guests from Europe and South Asia.
- The fair opens in the afternoon rather than the morning; the evening programme shifts to 9–10pm.
- APEX Escort has worked in Dubai since 2015. Lead time during the fair: two weeks ideal, three days minimum.
- Languages: English as the baseline, Arabic for Gulf guests, Russian for CIS collectors, French and Italian on request.
- From Madinat Jumeirah to DIFC is 20–25 minutes with clear roads, to Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz 15–20, to DXB airport 30–35.
- Hotels near the venue: Jumeirah Al Qasr, Jumeirah Mina A'Salam, Burj Al Arab, Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, One&Only Royal Mirage.
- Evening formats: gallery receptions, dinners at Pierchic and Zheng He's in Madinat Jumeirah, Coya at the Four Seasons, Zuma and La Petite Maison and Gaia in DIFC, Nobu and Ossiano at Atlantis.
- Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz runs its own programme alongside the fair; in 2026 it grew from a week into a month. Sotheby's and Christie's keep offices in DIFC. The Sharjah Biennial runs 21 January to 13 June 2027.
- April is the last comfortable month before summer, 22–25 degrees in the evening. Ramadan in 2027 falls in February and March and does not overlap the fair.
- Video verification is mandatory since 2018; correspondence with the manager is deleted after 72 hours.
- Payment in AED, USD or RUB by arrangement. Telegram: @Apex_concierge, WhatsApp: +995 571 214 362.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead of Art Dubai 2027 should I book?
Ideally two weeks, minimum three days. Same-day usually won't work — April 7–11 is spoken for well in advance.
Where does Art Dubai 2027 take place?
Madinat Jumeirah, Al Sufouh Road, Umm Suqeim 3 — the same venue the fair has used since its first edition in 2007. Official site: artdubai.ae.
What exactly are the fair days?
The organizer has announced April 7–11, 2027. The split between invitation-only previews and public days is published closer to the dates, so check artdubai.ae. We adjust to that without renegotiating your booking.
How is an art week different from a business forum?
In pace and in subject. The halls open in the afternoon and dinners shift to 9–10pm. The conversation is about artists and collections, not rounds and valuations. The dress code is softer than business. We keep a separate roster for it.
Does the model actually know anything about art?
To varying degrees, and we're honest about it. Nobody performs the art historian — that shows immediately. But the major gallery names, the difference between the sections and what's on view in Dubai and Sharjah right now, our women do know. If you need a deeper level, say so in advance: the selection is different and shorter.
Do you take requests from abroad?
Yes, the main channels are Telegram (@Apex_concierge) and WhatsApp. The guest's time zone doesn't matter — the manager replies within 5 minutes at any hour.
Which languages?
English is the baseline for Dubai — part of the roster at native level, part with confident working English for a social dinner. Arabic is a dedicated roster for guests and families from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. French and Italian on request, useful with European gallerists.
How discreet is this? I'm known in the art world.
We don't keep correspondence longer than 72 hours, photos from meetings are never published, and models sign an NDA for working with public guests. At openings we settle the photography rules separately — there are a lot of cameras, and it's handled at the door.
Dubai has strict rules. Isn't that a problem?
We understand that and work carefully. In public — at a reception, in a restaurant, in a hotel lobby — the companion behaves as your guest, without drawing attention. The rest stays private.
What are the rates, and in which currency?
The base Dubai grid is $1,500 for 2 hours and $2,000 for 4 hours. A night, a full day, two days or a trip outside the emirate are arranged individually. A seasonal rate applies during the fair; the manager will send figures for your format. We accept AED and USD in cash or by transfer, rubles by arrangement.
What if I want a companion for dinner only, with no continuation?
A frequent request during the art week. Dinner at Pierchic or Coya, conversation, parting at the restaurant — a separate format of 3–6 hours.
What if my request is cancelled?
Cancellation 48 hours out or more — no charge. 24–48 hours — 50%. Under 24 hours — 100%. During the fair there's no refund without a genuine reason: the dates are peak and the slot is held for you.
Can I book one model for several evenings in a row?
Yes, and it's the format we prefer — the guest and the model already know each other and the evenings run more smoothly. A package of 3 days or more — 10–15% off.
Any guarantee the photo on the site is the model who'll arrive?
Mandatory video verification before the meeting. If the photos don't match, the model doesn't go. That's been the standard since 2018.
How far are the hotels from the fair?
From Jumeirah Al Qasr and Mina A'Salam it's a walk or an abra ride — one complex. From Burj Al Arab five minutes by car, from the Four Seasons fifteen.
What else is happening in Dubai during the fair?
Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz opens exhibitions for the art week — in 2026 that programme grew from a week into a month. Sotheby's and Christie's both keep offices in DIFC. In 2027 the Sharjah Biennial runs in parallel, about an hour away.
How do I book an escort for Art Dubai 2027?
Message the manager on Telegram or WhatsApp two weeks before April 7 — we'll send 2–3 profiles for your evenings: dinner, opening, late programme. Languages and dress code are agreed in advance.
