Art Jameel
Art Jameel is an independent cultural foundation (est. 2003) operating Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai and Hayy Jameel in Jeddah, serving artists, cultural practitioners, and the public through exhibitions, commissions, grants, and heritage preservation across the MENA region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersDubai, United Arab Emirates
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Art Jameel does
Art Jameel is an independent cultural foundation established in 2003 as part of Community Jameel, the Jameel family's philanthropy organization. The foundation operates in the museums and contemporary art sector, with a geographic focus on the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (the SWANA region). Its mission is to support artists and creative communities through exhibitions, research, commissions, and learning programmes, while also engaging in cultural heritage preservation in partnership with government and institutional stakeholders.
The foundation's core assets are two physical cultural centres: Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai (opened November 2018 at Jaddaf Waterfront, designed by Serie Architects) and Hayy Jameel in Jeddah (opened December 2021, a 17,000 sqm multi-tenant creative complex designed by waiwai that includes Hayy Arts galleries, Hayy Studios residencies, Hayy Learning, and Hayy Cinema). It also operates Jameel House of Traditional Arts in Cairo and maintains funded presences at the Victoria and Albert Museum (Jameel Gallery, Jameel Prize, Jameel Fellowship) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Art Jameel Fund). Recurring programmes include the triennial Jameel Prize (£25,000 award, now in its 7th edition), the multi-cycle Art Jameel Commissions programme, the Anhar Culture and Climate Platform (in partnership with the British Council), and the Art Jameel Research and Practice Platform. Distribution is direct and free-to-the-public, with digital channels including artjameel.org, Instagram, and YouTube.
The business model is non-commercial: Art Jameel provides free admission to its physical centres and is funded through a combination of family endowment (via Community Jameel and the broader Abdul Latif Jameel group), government partnerships (Dubai Culture, Jeddah Municipality, Saudi General Commission for Tourism and Antiquities), and international institutional collaboration (V&A, The Met, British Council, Delfina Foundation). Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The 2026 partnership in Dubai's Dh1 billion Creative Sector Resilience Portfolio marks the foundation's deepest integration with state cultural-policy machinery to date. Leadership comprises Fady Jameel as President and Founder, Executive Director Antonia Carver, and Principal Advisor Aaron Cesar (also Director of Delfina Foundation).
Art Jameel firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Art Jameel
- Legal name
- Beyt Al Fann Jameel L.L.C.
- Website
- https://artjameel.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Art Jameel is an independent cultural foundation (est. 2003) operating Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai and Hayy Jameel in Jeddah, serving artists, cultural practitioners, and the public through exhibitions, commissions, grants, and heritage preservation across the MENA region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Art Jameel industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cultural Arts Foundation
- NAICS
- Museums (71211), Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)
Keywords
Where Art Jameel is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dubai
- HQ country
- United Arab Emirates
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices3 records
Markets served
Art Jameel business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Institutional partnerships and government support: Art Jameel operates as a cultural foundation supported by partnerships with government entities (Dubai Culture, Saudi authorities) and international institutions to deliver cultural programmes, grants, and infrastructure.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Art Jameel product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Art Jameel is an independent cultural foundation that operates two physical arts centres (Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai and Hayy Jameel in Jeddah) delivering contemporary art exhibitions, artist commissions, residencies, and educational programmes. It supports the MENA art ecosystem through triennial prizes (Jameel Prize with V&A), grants, fellowships, climate-focused initiatives, and research platforms, while also maintaining international partnerships for heritage preservation.
Product overview
Art Jameel is an independent arts institution that manages a portfolio of cultural centers, commissioning programs, prizes, and sustainability initiatives focused on the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey. Its core offerings include two physical centers—Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai (opened 2018) and Hayy Jameel in Jeddah (opened 2021)—which house gallery spaces, libraries, cinemas, and educational platforms. Supporting programs include the triennial Jameel Prize (in partnership with V&A), Art Jameel Commissions (sculpture, digital, writing, drawing cycles), the Anhar Culture and Climate Platform (with British Council), and the Research and Practice Platform (with Dubai Culture). The organization also manages the Art Jameel Fund at The Met, the Jameel Gallery at V&A, and various sustainability initiatives including the World Weather Network.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Jameel Prize: International prize for contemporary art and design inspired by Islamic traditions, held in partnership with V&A
- Art Jameel Commissions
- Hayy Jameel
- Jameel Arts Centre
Products and services
- Jameel Arts Centre, Dubai A contemporary arts institution located at Jaddaf Waterfront, Dubai, featuring multiple gallery spaces for curated commissions, solo and group exhibitions, an open-access research library dedicated to Arab art and cultural movements, artist project spaces, rooftop terrace, writer's studio, members' lounge, restaurant, and shop.
- Hayy Jameel, Jeddah Saudi Arabia's first creative complex of its kind spanning 17,000 square meters in Jeddah's Al Muhammadiyah district. It houses Hayy Arts (gallery spaces), Hayy Learning (educational platform), Hayy Studios (production and residency spaces), Hayy Cinema (first independent cinema in the Kingdom), and a central courtyard called Saha.
- Jameel Prize A prestigious triennial prize established in partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London, celebrating contemporary art and design inspired by Islamic art and visual culture. The prize awards £25,000 to the winner and showcases shortlisted artists' work in exhibitions at V&A and international venues.
- Art Jameel Commissions A multi-cycle commissioning program supporting contemporary artists from the Middle East and beyond to create new works spanning sculpture, writing and art research, drawing, photography, and digital art. Each cycle runs three years and culminates in exhibitions at Jameel Arts Centre.
- Anhar: Culture and Climate Platform A grants platform developed in collaboration with the British Council supporting ambitious arts and culture projects addressing climate emergencies in the MENA region. Offers three tiers of funding for independent artists, cultural organizations, and UK-MENA collaborations.
- Art Jameel Research and Practice Platform A grant platform supporting independent cultural practitioners in the Middle East and North Africa. In 2026, provides AED 10,000 grants for Dubai-based creative practitioners in partnership with Dubai Culture. Previous iterations supported COVID-19 response (2020) and climate-focused projects (2023) with grants ranging from AED 3,600 to AED 22,000.
- Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art at V&A A gallery of Islamic art at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, supported since the 2006 renovation. Houses over 400 objects including ceramics, textiles, carpets, metalwork, glass, and woodwork dating from the 8th-9th centuries to the First World War, including the Ardabil Carpet.
- Jameel Fellowship at V&A A residency program at the Victoria and Albert Museum inviting contemporary artists, designers, writers, and curators from the SWANA region and its diasporas. Focused on investigation rather than making, supporting development of new lines of enquiry with access to the V&A's collection.
Companies that use Art Jameel
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Art Jameel technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Art Jameel partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Dubai Culture and Arts AuthoritycoreArt Jameel is a delivery partner for Dubai's Dh1 billion Creative Sector Resilience Portfolio, providing workspaces, grants, training, and exhibition opportunities for the creative economy through the Cultural Infrastructure and Creative Production pillars.
- Delfina FoundationmajorMarch 2018 partnership enabling organisations to share expertise, networks and co-produce residencies and exhibition programmes. Aaron Cesar appointed as Principal Advisor to Art Jameel; Fady Jameel joined Delfina Foundation Board of Trustees.
- Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)corePartnership established in 2003 to renovate the Islamic Art gallery (now Jameel Gallery), housing over 400 objects. Co-founded the Jameel Prize in 2009, a triennial award for contemporary art inspired by Islamic tradition. Includes Jameel Fellowship programme for SWANA artists.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)coreThe Art Jameel Fund enables The Met to acquire works by modern and contemporary artists from the Middle East. Supports acquisitions, global contemporary programming, and Arabic translation of educational resources. Most recently supported acquisition of works by Egyptian artist Maha Maamoun.
- Prince's School of Traditional ArtsminorListed as a major institutional partner in supporting both ancient and new technologies and encouraging entrepreneurship and cultural networks.
- UAE National Pavilion at Venice BiennaleminorMay 2017 partnership to support 'Rock, Paper, Scissors: Play and Performance Practices' exhibition at Venice Biennale 2017, in collaboration with Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation and curator Hammad Nasar.
- Jeddah MunicipalitymajorPartnership to launch the Jeddah Sculpture Museum, an open-air museum featuring 20 restored works by Saudi and international artists including Henry Moore, Joan Miró, and Alexander Calder.
- Saudi General Commission for Tourism and AntiquitiesmajorPartnership to build the Abdul Latif Jameel Centre for Heritage and Antiquities in the historic town of AlUla in northwestern Saudi Arabia, designed in the style of AlUla's desert fortresses.
- British CouncilcoreCollaboration on the Anhar: Culture and Climate Platform, supporting cultural practitioners across MENA to address the climate emergency through arts. Grants range from £1,000-£5,000 for artists up to £25,000-£50,000 for UK-MENA partnerships.
- Art DubaiminorPartner in Dubai's Creative Sector Resilience Portfolio for creative economy support.
- Majid Al Futtaim's Ma'an programmeminorPartner in Dubai's Creative Sector Resilience Portfolio.
- Dubai HoldingminorCollaboration on Jaddaf Waterfront Sculpture Park with Dubai Holding.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Art Jameel competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Art Jameel social profiles
Digital presenceArt Jameel financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Art Jameel leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Art Jameel subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Art Jameel funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Art Jameel M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Art Jameel
What does Art Jameel do?
Art Jameel is an independent cultural foundation that operates two physical arts centres (Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai and Hayy Jameel in Jeddah) delivering contemporary art exhibitions, artist commissions, residencies, and educational programmes. It supports the MENA art ecosystem through triennial prizes (Jameel Prize with V&A), grants, fellowships, climate-focused initiatives, and research platforms, while also maintaining international partnerships for heritage preservation.
Is Art Jameel a public or private company?
Art Jameel is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Art Jameel founded?
Art Jameel was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Art Jameel based?
Art Jameel is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in the Middle East region.
How does Art Jameel make money?
One revenue line is on record: institutional partnerships and government support.
Does Art Jameel have an API?
No public API is recorded for Art Jameel.
What industry is Art Jameel in?
Art Jameel's product category is Cultural Arts Foundation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJADAH, Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit). Its NAICS code is 71211 and its SIC code is 7900.