UAE galleries close amid Iran missile strikes

This article was first published by The Art Newspaper.

Art spaces across the UAE have closed in response to Iran’s ongoing missile strikes in the region.

On 28 February, the US and Israel launched deadly strikes against Iran, which has retaliated by firing missiles targeting energy infrastructure, military bases, airports and tourism sites throughout the Arabian Gulf, with the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait having all intercepted Iranian missiles, according to Reuters.

Iran’s strikes have killed three people in the UAE, the nation’s Ministry of Defence said via X on 1 March. At least 153 people have been killed in Iran by the US-Israel strikes, reports the BBC.

The UAE has issued advice for its residents to remain at home. Accordingly, many museums and galleries in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah have shut, with their staff working remotely. Among the art spaces that have closed are the Sharjah Art Foundation and the Dubai commercial galleries Lawrie Shabibi and The Third Line.