Guide · Dubai
XVA Gallery and the shaded courtyards of Al Fahidi
Plan a visit to contemporary exhibitions and three shaded courtyards at XVA in Al Fahidi. Check gallery and café hours, exhibition dates and contact details.
A courtyard in Al Fahidi can take you from a historic neighbourhood into a conversation about art being made today. XVA Gallery, founded in 2003, presents contemporary artists in Dubai’s heritage district. Visit during gallery hours for the exhibition, then give yourself time to sit in one of the shaded courtyards. The café opens earlier and stays open later, a distinction that matters if the art is the reason for your trip. XVA Gallery
Fast facts
| Detail | Visitor information |
|---|---|
| Destination | XVA Gallery, Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Bur Dubai |
| Gallery hours | Daily, 10am to 6pm |
| Café hours | Daily, 7am to 10pm |
| Courtyards | Three shaded courtyards used by the café |
| Contact | +971 4 353 3462 or xva@xvagallery.com |
| Suggested time | 45 to 75 minutes for the exhibition and a courtyard stop |
These are the hours published by XVA. For a visit centred on one artist, check the exhibition dates as well. A show can end between two otherwise ordinary gallery days. Gallery calendar and hours
Begin with the show on the wall
Use XVA Gallery as your map destination once you enter the pedestrian lanes. Inside, find the exhibition title and the artist’s name before taking a circuit of the room. Choose one work to return to. Looking a second time after seeing the rest of a show can change which details catch your eye.
The November 2026 programme illustrates how quickly the experience changes. XVA listed Charlie Koolhaas’s Synchronicity, bringing together photography, painting and sculpture, through 12 November. It scheduled Mukesh Shah’s Eight Neons from 14 November to 10 December. If you are planning around a changeover day, call the gallery to check installation and public access. For later dates, use the live programme. XVA exhibition listings
Seating around a tree in the courtyard of XVA Café. Featured photograph by Saaremees (CC BY-SA 4.0). Second photograph by XVA Gallery.
Leave time for the courtyards
Rooms and shaded outdoor spaces sit close together here. After looking at a work indoors, step into a courtyard and notice how different the light is beneath a tree or a canopy. The change of pace is one reason this small gallery rewards a dedicated stop, even on a day already full of Al Fahidi sightseeing.
XVA describes a vegetarian café serving Middle Eastern-inspired dishes in its courtyards. Someone coming for breakfast can enjoy that setting from 7am. Someone coming for both breakfast and art should time the gallery portion for 10am or later. For a meal with a group, check seating with the café. XVA Gallery and Café
Can you visit if you are staying elsewhere?
XVA publishes gallery hours and contact details for visitors. The same property also houses a hotel. Follow the gallery and café signs when moving between spaces, and ask staff before photographing an artwork or using a tripod.
If stairs or narrow thresholds affect your plans, contact XVA about the route to the particular exhibition and courtyard you want to visit. Knowing which room is in use will help staff give you a precise answer.
Visitor information checked on 11 November 2026.