As the US-Israel conflict with Iran enters its fourth week, Gulf states, known for their vibrant contemporary art scene, are attempting to maintain an air of normalcy by reopening numerous galleries and museums. This stands in stark contrast to the extensive destruction seen in Iran and Lebanon, where cultural heritage sites have suffered heavy damage from American and Israeli strikes.
However, experts in wartime art preservation caution that cultural workers and their collections in the Gulf states, consisting of seven Arab nations along the Persian Gulf with significant political and economic connections, could become vulnerable targets.
“The longer the conflict drags on and there is additional incentive on Iran not to show any kind of restraint, the greater likelihood that I would say any of the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] countries will experience a hit on cultural infrastructure,” Penn Cultural Heritage Center Director Brian Daniels told Hyperallergic.
Since the initial US and Israeli assault on Iran on February 28, Iran has retaliated by targeting GCC states aligned with the US through missile and drone attacks. Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, which host US military bases, have heavily invested in cultural institutions as part of a strategy to pivot away from oil dependence towards tourism and finance, moves that some critics see as attempts to mask human rights issues.
On March 19, the Art Dubai Fair, now in its 20th year, announced a month-long postponement of its event to mid-May, adapting the format due to the conflict’s logistical challenges and exhibitor withdrawals. “We believe it remains important to create space for artists, galleries, and audiences to come together at this time,” Art Dubai spokesperson Dave Field said in an email.
New York University’s Abu Dhabi gallery remains closed, and the Sharjah Art Foundation, responsible for the prominent Sharjah Biennial, has indefinitely postponed its annual “March Meeting” due to regional instability.
On March 1, an Iranian strike targeted an Abu Dhabi port near the cultural district housing the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the future Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. Although the museums were likely not damaged, Daniels noted the incident highlighted the risks urban strikes pose to cultural sites.
The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, designed by the late Frank Gehry, is slated to open in 2026 after two decades of construction. A museum spokesperson assured Hyperallergic that “progress remains steady and on time.”
Maliha Tabari, founder of the Tabari Artspace gallery in Dubai, expressed confidence in the UAE’s safety, observing that most galleries and museums have reopened post-disruptions, though she acknowledged the situation remains fluid. “It depends on how much Trump wants to escalate this,” she said. “He dragged us all into this war. I don’t know what he was thinking. But I think right now he’s backtracking.”
On March 13, debris from an intercepted drone impacted near the Dubai International Finance Center, close to Tabari Artspace, which is now accessible by appointment.
Some cultural institutions are resuming operations, like Dubai’s Jameel Arts Center, which has implemented full safety protocols, and Qatar’s Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, which reopened on March 21.
Yet, the semblance of normalcy may be misleading. Daniels expressed concern that the Gulf states’ dependency on tourism might lead governments to downplay the conflict’s threat, delaying necessary emergency measures.
Gulf governments are curbing public discourse to manage perceptions of wartime disorder. In the UAE, over 100 individuals have been detained for sharing images of missile and drone strikes online.
On March 21, President Donald Trump warned of attacks on Iranian power plants if Iran did not open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. Iran countered by threatening to target GCC states’ energy and desalination facilities. Trump extended his ultimatum on Monday.
The destruction of cultural heritage in Iran and Lebanon is extensive. Iranian officials report that US and Israeli airstrikes have damaged 114 cultural and historical sites, including Iran’s Golestan Palace. Israeli bombings in Lebanon similarly threaten local galleries and cultural spots.
Cori Wegener, founder of the US Committee of the Blue Shield, emphasized the need for cultural institutions to prepare disaster plans to protect staff and collections if the conflict escalates. These plans include digitizing art for documentation, relocating collections from vulnerable areas, and establishing protocols for moving art underground or using sandbags for protection. Evacuation plans for art to safer locations are also advised.
In case the situation worsens for the UAE, Tabari plans to shift some projects online to continue documenting Middle Eastern history and culture. Her gallery has previously supported artists affected by war, such as financing residencies in Zurich for Palestinian artists.
Tabari believes protecting artists and sharing their experiences globally are intertwined. “We’re trying to preserve a time capsule. And it all reflects onto the situation of where the artist is, how the artist is, what he’s going through,” she said. “Art changes mindsets.”
