ART IN THE GULF STATES
FEBRUARY 2027
DR NICK GORDON
*** Preliminary Itinerary ***
Enjoy the Sharjah Biennial and Art Basel Qatar, while taking in the exceptional new museums, architecture and traditional crafts of the Gulf States
OVERVIEW
The new art institutions of the Gulf States, such as the Abu Dhabi Louvre and Qatar’s Museum of Islamic Art, are stunning architectural masterpieces housing diverse collections. These museums form part of a thriving art scene, that celebrates the traditional aesthetics of the region, while also providing leadership and a venue for the broader region’s many voices.
Limelight Arts Travel's 10-day tour brings together the cultural highlights of the Gulf States, which are often passed through but little explored. With 3-night stays in Doha, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, we discover the history behind their present splendour, from their role in medieval maritime trade to the Sheikhs’ privileged relationship with the British Empire. Throughout the tour we experience the region’s recent resurgence as an independent cultural destination, expressed in fabulous new museums. The Abu Dhabi Louvre, Doha's Museum of Islamic Art and other new institutions are themselves architectural masterpieces that complement the resplendent yet more traditional face of the region. Visits to two highly-regarded art fairs – Art Basel Qatar and the Sharjah Biennial – highlight the best contemporary art from the Middle East, Africa and Asia, as well as Qatar and the UAE's diplomatic leadership in a historically and politically complex region.
The tour begins in Doha, where we visit highlight institutions including the National Museum and Museum of Islamic Art, and explore local culture in the souks and at Katara Cultural Village, before enjoying a day at Art Basel Qatar, the newest iteration of the art fair giant. We then fly to Sharjah, where we take in its highly-regarded Biennial, now in its sixteenth edition, and traditional forts and the UNESCO-listed Tombs of Jabal Hafit. The tour concludes in Abu Dhabi, where we visit its excellent new museums, the beautiful Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and the House of the Artisans.
TOUR LEADER
Dr Nick Gordon is a director of Limelight Arts Travel and a well-known cultural tour leader, with over twenty years’ experience leading tours to Western Europe, Asia and Australasia. Nick has a University Medal and PhD in History from the University of Sydney and taught history, architectural history and cultural studies at the University of Sydney, Western Sydney University, and UNSW. Since 2006, he has designed and led tours to Italy, France, Germany, the Low Countries, Scandinavia, Japan and China, and is particularly known for his design of successful tours to contemporary art fairs.
“Nick was an exceptional guide, very knowledgeable in terms of the Setouchi Triennale and history of Japan” – Stephen N., Japan’s Art Islands & the Setouchi Triennale, 2025
HIGHLIGHTS
Discover the extraordinary new museums of the UAE, including the Abu Dhabi Louvre and Guggenheim
Appreciate excellent collections of Islamic art in spectacular contemporary museums in Doha and Sharjah
Experience two highly-regarded arts festivals, focusing on contemporary art from the Middle East, Africa and Asia: Art Basel in Doha and the Sharjah Biennial
Admire the architecture of the desert states, from traditional forts to stunning modern mosques and contemporary gems
Explore the unexpected history and culture of the Gulf States, from their rise on the Middle Eastern trade routes to traditional arts and crafts
Questions?
Get in touch with us by telephone or email: