Art Dubai has announced a last-minute change of venue and a postponement of its 2021 edition. The art fair will now open on March 29 at the Dubai International Financial Centre, a collection of buildings about a 20-minute drive up the emirate's coast. It was originally scheduled to take place 17–20 March at its "home" in the luxury hotel Madinat Jumeirah.

The fair says in a statement that "their current strategy takes into account health and safety policies, travel and other Covid-related restrictions, as well as the ongoing commitment from the residents who wish to attend art fair personally."

The postponed fair will now feature 45 galleries instead of the previously scheduled 86 and will last six days instead of four (March 29–3 April). The smaller number of galleries attending in person reflects Dubai's new travel restrictions, which prohibit many foreign galleries from entering the country.

The UK added Dubai to its "red list" in January, halting direct flights and imposing strict self-isolation rules on visitors from the emirate. The fair is also introducing a Remote Participation Program, which will enable galleries to remotely present exhibits and allow tourists in Dubai to see artworks in person. An updated list of participating galleries will be released later this month.

According to the fair's website, the new venue will enable it to effectively control the number of people attending the fair at any given time, keeping in mind the required safety and social distancing protocols. Visitors will be able to purchase tickets through a new app. The fair is yet to confirm if it will be appointment-only or open entry.

The decision to change the date and location comes as a result of the rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the UAE. It prompted the government to increase restrictions and close bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Many people attributed the increase of Covid-19 cases. The UAE jumps from 1,000 at the end of 2020 to nearly 4,000 at the beginning of February, blame it on the country's weak Covid-19 rules over Christmas and New Year, as well as encouraging foreign tourists to visit.

Despite the cancellation and postponement of several fairs in 2021, Art Dubai's organizers have insisted on holding a physical fair this year.