Alserkal Avenue: a weekend guide to Dubai’s arts district
Alserkal Avenue is one of the most interesting places to spend a weekend in Dubai. Hidden among the warehouses of Al Quoz, it brings together contemporary art galleries, independent shops, cafés, studios and performance spaces. This guide explains what the Avenue is, how to plan your visit and how to make the most of a day there, with a stop at H5 lab along the way.
What is Alserkal Avenue?
Alserkal Avenue is an arts and culture district in Al Quoz Industrial Area 1. It began in 2007, when the Alserkal family started converting industrial warehouses into spaces for galleries. Over the following years it expanded and became home to a large community of galleries, design studios, concept stores and creative businesses. The district also hosts a programme of exhibitions, talks, screenings and public events, many of them organised through the Alserkal Arts Foundation.
What makes the Avenue special is its scale. Everything is within walking distance, and the industrial architecture gives every space a distinctive character. You can move from a major exhibition to a small independent shop in a few minutes.
Planning your visit
Timing. Many galleries close on certain days of the week and opening hours vary by space, so check each venue before you go. Weekends are lively, especially when new exhibitions open. In the warmer months, mornings and evenings are more comfortable for walking between warehouses.
Getting there. The Avenue is a short drive from Sheikh Zayed Road. Taxis and ride-hailing apps can drop you at the entrance. Parking is available within the district.
What to wear. You will walk between buildings, often outdoors. Light, comfortable clothing and shoes are a good idea, with a layer for air-conditioned galleries.
A slow weekend itinerary
Morning: start with coffee. Begin at one of the cafés in the Avenue. At H5 lab, our café serves matcha and a rotating list of specials. Recent favourites include rose matcha and strawberry cloud matcha, and our summer menu featured a Flying Fig smoothie and a Tahini Date smoothie.
Late morning: galleries. Walk through the galleries currently showing. The Avenue’s programme changes throughout the year, so there is always something new, from established international artists to emerging voices from the region.
Lunch. Several food spots in and around the Avenue offer a break between visits.
Afternoon: independent shops and studios. This is a good time to explore concept stores and design spaces. At H5 lab, Warehouse 32A on Lane 4, you can browse archival designer clothing, with Issey Miyake, Comme des Garçons and Yohji Yamamoto as our main pillars, alongside vintage t-shirts and Japanese magazines. On selected weekends we also host H5 flowers, where you can pick up a bouquet.
Evening: events. Many spaces host talks, screenings and performances. At H5 lab we have hosted film evenings dedicated to Martin Margiela, pop-ups by guest makers, portrait studio days and monthly book meetings. Check our Instagram for upcoming dates.
Bookshops, magazines and slow browsing
Part of the pleasure of the Avenue is discovering printed matter. Several spaces sell art books, zines and magazines, and at H5 lab we keep a shelf of Japanese magazines, including issues that document fashion history and special editions such as a feature on Issey Miyake’s design laboratory and magazines covering past World Cups. Take your time with them: printed archives are often the best way to understand the context behind the clothes on the rails. Our monthly book meetings also bring people together around a single title, with tickets announced on Instagram.
Why the Avenue matters
Alserkal Avenue shows a side of Dubai that many visitors do not expect: independent, experimental and community-driven. It is a place where artists, designers and small businesses support each other. Many of the people who visit H5 lab come from this world, drawn to form, history and point of view rather than logos.
Tips for first-time visitors
Take a map of the Avenue at the entrance or check the district’s website. Follow the venues you like on Instagram, because many announce events and openings there first. Do not try to see everything in one day; the Avenue rewards slow visits.
We would love to welcome you at the yellow warehouse. Come for a matcha, try on a piece from the archive and ask us anything about the designers we carry.
