A number of museums, galleries, and university campuses in the UAE and Qatar have suspended in-person operations following Iranian missile attacks that began over the weekend, with additional temporary closures reported in Bahrain. The disruptions have affected exhibition openings and programs in Dubai, including at venues such as Leila Heller Gallery and The Third Line.

According to a Telegram post by the Iranian Red Crescent Society, at least 555 people were killed in Iran in US-Israeli attacks across 131 cities, with later official figures putting the death toll at around 787 as strikes continued. Meanwhile, footage released by the Iranian government shows blast damage at Tehran’s Golestan Palace, a Qajar-era UNESCO World Heritage site.

In response, Iran has launched missiles and drones toward countries hosting US assets, including the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. Amid the threat of further bombardment, numerous museums and galleries have shut their doors to protect staff and collections. Dubai’s Jameel Arts Centre has been closed since March 2, with scheduled programs continuing online. At Alserkal Avenue, Dubai’s art and culture district, galleries including Aisha Alabbar Gallery, The Third Line, Taymour Grahne Projects, 1x1 Art Gallery, Green Art Gallery, Lawrie Shabibi, and Firetti Contemporary have announced temporary closures.

Other museums and art spaces across the UAE, including Louvre Abu Dhabi, NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery, and Sharjah Art Foundation, have suspended operations. Meanwhile, the 20th edition of Art Dubai is still scheduled to take place from April 17 to 19. A spokesperson said, “we fully expect this period of uncertainty to pass soon and in the meantime, we are continuing preparations for the fair as planned whilst monitoring the situation closely with our stakeholders.”

In Doha, the Museum of Islamic Art and the National Museum of Qatar have closed, and museums in Bahrain have taken similar measures. None of the above mentioned institutions have yet indicated when they will reopen.

American university campuses across the Gulf have suspended in-person operations and shifted to remote learning, including New York University Abu Dhabi, Georgetown University in Qatar, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, and Northwestern University in Qatar. Washington has advised US citizens to depart from multiple countries in the region and has shut its embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait after drone attacks caused damage to both compounds.

Following an extraordinary meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council, foreign ministers called on the international community—particularly the UN Security Council—to take immediate action to prevent further violations that endanger civilian lives. 

Ashley Cheung is an editorial intern at ArtAsiaPacific.