Dubai Culture invites you to explore the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve in a completely new way.
There’s never a dull moment in Dubai. Between desert dining and immersive art exhibitions, there’s so much happening in every corner of the emirate. Just when you think you’ve ticked off the city’s pop-ups and outdoor happenings, the spotlight shifts beyond the skyline and straight into the dunes. Enter Al Marmoom: The Living Wild, a first-of-its-kind drive-through exhibition that transforms the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve into an open-air cultural route that you experience from the comfort of your own car.
Running from 30 January to 8 February 2026, the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority-backed showcase reframes the UAE’s largest unfenced nature reserve as a “living, breathing ecosystem” and celebrates its beauty, biodiversity, and environmental significance through art-led storytelling.
At the heart of the experience are 24 photographs by His Excellency Ali Khalifa bin Thalith, Secretary General of the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award. Expect rare, up-close moments captured across Al Marmoom’s wild terrain, from gazelles and desert mammals to migratory birds that use the reserve as a seasonal sanctuary, all set against vast, cinematic desert landscapes.
What makes this one different is the format. Instead of walking through a gallery, visitors follow a curated driving route featuring outdoor installations that blend into the environment. The structures are desert-ready, powered by solar energy, and each stop features QR codes so you can scan for more context on the habitats and species featured in the imagery.
Whether you’re into photography, nature, or simply want a fresh winter plan that feels unmistakably Dubai, Al Marmoom: The Living Wild offers a laid-back way to reconnect with the emirate’s natural heritage while discovering the desert through a new lens.
GO: Visit www.dubaiculture.gov.ae for more information.