I have no idea what this is like but I’m curious as hell. Maybe someone will fly me over to Dubai to check it out.

Art Dubai 

Taking place from March 19 until 21, 2009, the third edition of Art Dubai – one of the world’s most audacious and pioneering contemporary art fairs – will be characterized by an emphasis on quality and integrity.  More than 300 applications were reviewed by an international committee which ultimately selected just over 60 galleries whose individual exhibition proposals will assure an innovative and multi-faceted event, alluring to the seasoned as well as the new collector.  Truly global in outlook and appeal, Art Dubai, located in the beach resort of Madinat Jumeirah, will represents artists from the Middle East, South and Central Asia, the Far East and the West. With the added benefit of the newly opened Museum of Islamic Art and coinciding for the first time with the Sharjah Biennial, Art Dubai is seeking to attract more than 5000 visitors from overseas, doubling the number of international visitors from Art Dubai 2008.  www.artdubai.ae

Sharjah Biennial 9 

Under the Patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah and under the auspices of Biennial Director, HH Sheika Hoor al Qasimi, overseen by renowned Curators Isabel Carlos and Tarek Abou El Fetouh and led by Artistic Director Jack Persekian, the 9th edition of the Sharjah Biennial, taking place from March 19 until May 16 2009, will transcend central themes and pre-cast frameworks, exhibiting instead a wide range of works selected by open invitation. The Sharjah Biennial has since its inauguration in 1993 served to connect artists, institutions and organisations and to foster artistic dialogue and exchange. It ranks amongst the most established and prominent cultural events in the Middle East.www.sharjahbiennial.org

Abraaj Capital Art Prize 

The Abraaj Capital Art Prize, which at $1 million is one of the most generous art prizes in the world, focuses on promoting and supporting young talent from the MENASA region (Middle East/North Africa/South Asia).  With a flourishing art market in place, time has come to pay attention and tribute to the regional artistic talent and this is ACAP’s main goal. The selection committee of ACAP selected three recipient curator/artist teams out of 100 applications: Cristiana Perrella & Kutluğ Ataman; Carol Solomon & Zoulikha Bouabadellah; and Leyla Fakhr & Nazgol Ansarinia. They are currently working on their projects which will be unveiled during Art Dubai.  They will also become part of the Abraaj Capital corporate collection. www.artdubai.ae

Contemparabia 

Contemparabia is a joint initiative of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH); Art Dubai; the Sharjah Biennial; the Qatar Museums Authority; and the Tourism Development Investment Company Abu Dhabi (TDIC).  Taking place from 15 to 21 March 2009, Contemparabia comprises a cultural and geographical excursion which is designed with one specific aim in mind: to focus regional as well as international attention on the outstanding quality and diversity of cultural projects underway in the Gulf.  The programme includes chosen visits to Doha (the Museum of Islamic Art and special tours); Dubai (the Global Art Forum, Art Dubai, the exhibition of the Abraaj Capital Art Prize finalists’ works on Fort Island and Dubai’s famed gallery district); Sharjah (the Sharjah Biennial 9) and Abu Dhabi (cultural sites and museum projects). www.contemparabia.com