National Pavilion United Arab Emirates la Biennale di Venezia was established to endorse the UAE’s contemporary art practices on an international platform, through participation at la Biennale di Venezia, and to provide a foundation to support the nation’s diverse and developing cultural scene. It is commissioned by the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation (SHF), and supported by the UAE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development (MCYCD).

The UAE’s participation at la Biennale di Venezia commenced in 2009 with a national pavilion at the 53rd International Art Exhibition, and has continued in subsequent editions of the art exhibition since. In 2013, SHF came on board as commissioner and the UAE was awarded with a long-term hospitality agreement (permanent pavilion) in the Arsenale – Sale d’Armi, providing the Emirates a platform to showcase visual arts and architecture for a period of 20 years. 2014 marked the UAE’s first participation at the International Architecture Exhibition. The UAE is currently participating with an exhibition at the 56th International Art Exhibition, which closes November 22, 2015.