Monumental 10‑kilometre immersive installation CLIO new Dubai art icon

CLIO, a monumental 10‑kilometre immersive art installation set to become one of the world’s largest artworks and a new cultural icon for the UAE and the wider region, was officially presented on January 10 in Dubai. The event was held at L’Amo Bistro del Mare, Dubai Harbour Yacht Club, and was attended by sports icons Roberto Baggio, David Trezeguet, Fabio Cannavaro and Francesco Totti, alongside artists, actors and other ambassadors, including Stefano Cecchi and Diego Granese. Set in over one million square metres at the VGPX+66 Margham Dubai - Dubai Desert SkyDive location, CLIO Desert Park will invite millions of visitors on a curated journey through humanity’s shared story.

Conceived by international contemporary artist Agron Hoti, the installation unfolds across 25,000 authenticated 2 m x 2 m modules, each a chapter in a sweeping narrative of inclusion, memory, and collective authorship. At the heart of the experience is Clio House, an architecturally distinctive, year‑round cultural maison for exhibitions, talks, residencies and collaborations, designed to convene creators, thinkers, and communities from the UAE and around the world. Over six years, CLIO aims to welcome nearly five million visitors, including one million certifying participants, further establishing Dubai as a global centre for large‑scale immersive art and culture.

“CLIO is designed as a living dialogue between art, land, and people and is a new cultural landmark that belongs to everyone,” said Massimiliano Suglia, CEO & Founder, CLIO Desert Park. “From Dubai, we are shaping a global cultural destination that will welcome 4.8 million visitors over six years, and set a new benchmark for immersive public art.” CLIO Desert Park will be developed on land owned by Shamal Holding, Dubai based diversified investment firm and the owner of the desert site, where the installation will be realised. Mohammad Javad, Executive Vice President – Leisure & Entertainment – Shamal, said that “we’re truly excited to host the CLIO Canvas at our Skydive Dubai Desert Campus.

Signatures of sport legends on CLIO Art.

“This location represents the intersection of sport, movement, and human expression - which is exactly what CLIO stands for. The Skydive Dubai desert dropzone is not just a backdrop: it’s an active landscape shaped by energy, scale, and perspective. By bringing art into this environment, we’re creating a powerful dialogue between athleticism and creativity, where motion meets meaning. It’s a space that allows visitors to experience art not as something static, but as something they move through, feel, and engage with, much like sport itself.” A flagship for Dubai’s creative economy, CLIO’s 10‑kilometre linear installation, with a planned width of 10 metres, spans over one million square metres.

Over a six‑year programme, it will present rotating global exhibitions and commissions, produce a feature documentary with Dubai Film that follows the making of the project, and invite public participation through Clio’s Hands, an ongoing collective artwork that invites contributions from visitors around the world. Clio House will operate year‑round as a hub for cultural exchange, brand collaborations, and thought leadership, with planned partnerships across luxury, design and technology. The destination experience is designed for immersion and access, with off‑road buggy art safaris tracing the line of the installation.

Interactive screen walls will reveal ‘The Making of CLIO’ and the story behind each module; ceremonial programming will be inspired by Emirati hospitality with dates, gahwa, and storytelling at the heart of the spiral. A ‘Shoot the Arrow for Peace’ experience offers a participatory moment of symbolism and unity. Guest access is supported by dedicated on‑site parking for approximately 400–450 vehicles, to ensure smooth arrivals for visitors, partners, and VIP delegations. CLIO is progressing as per a defined timeline: the project launch and investment phase commenced in Q3 2025, with construction starting in 2026. The opening of CLIO Oasis is targeted for 2027, and full project completion is slated for 2033.

Sport legends at CLIO launch.

XDubai, a leading lifestyle and action sports brand based in Dubai and dedicated to promoting innovation, urban culture and experiential storytelling, is supporting the project through digital communication and video content. Skydive Dubai, one of the world’s most iconic skydiving destinations, has entered into an agreement with CLIO for the development of experiential packages designed to allow visitors to experience the installation at its fullest scale, including aerial perspectives over the desert landscape.

Artist Agron Hoti is recognised for large‑scale abstract works exhibited in New York, Paris, Milan, Shanghai and Tel Aviv. Born in 1970 in Mamurras, Albania, he works on large and very large formats, painting on the ground, often with his bare hands, brooms, spatulas, rollers and improvised tools, using acrylic enamels, industrial paints, natural pigments and sprays. His work has been defined as “a narrative gesture that goes beyond the surface, to touch the myth.” Architect Matteo Antonelli is known for poetic uses of light and material that forge connections between space and people. Italian restorer Cinzia Pasquali, whose credits include the restoration of Leonardo da Vinci’s Saint Anne, the Virgin and Child at the Musée du Louvre, leads conservation and protection efforts.

Executive leadership is led by Massimiliano Suglia, international entrepreneur bridging sport, culture, and business. CLIO will be a landmark cultural project that transforms the desert into a living canvas. Conceived by Hoti and developed by Clio Oasis Project Management Services LLC, it brings together art, architecture, technology and community, designed to engage local, regional, and global audiences. The project’s destination address is VGPX+66 Margham Dubai - Dubai Desert SkyDive.