Treasures Wanted, an art detective game, opens in Al Quoz in mid-November
Fever's Treasures Wanted turns famous lost artworks into ten cold cases to solve at The Sandwash in Al Quoz, from Dh75, open daily from 10am to 10pm.
Dubai is getting a new indoor attraction built around some of the world's most famous missing art. Treasures Wanted, which its makers call the world's first immersive art detective experience, opens in mid-November at The Sandwash, a warehouse venue in Al Quoz Industrial Area 3. It is run by Fever, the ticketing and live events company behind the Candlelight concerts, and has a waiting list open now.
The idea is simple: real lost artworks and treasures are presented as cold cases, and visitors are the detectives. The route is split into ten story worlds, each built as a scene to investigate. Guests wear headphones that tell the story, follow clues, scan objects and search recreated crime scenes to piece together what happened to each piece.
A visit takes 60 to 90 minutes, according to the attraction's own information, although its help pages say most people spend at least 45 minutes inside. The venue is indoors and air conditioned, which makes it an option for families on hot afternoons or after dark, and it is open every day from 10am to 10pm. Photos and short videos are allowed, but not full recordings or professional cameras. There is no dress code.
Al Quoz has become the city's main district for this kind of space. Alserkal Avenue's galleries and The Junction theatre sit nearby, and warehouse venues there have hosted several immersive shows in recent seasons. Treasures Wanted adds a game to that mix, aimed at both adults and children.
Some things to know before booking. The ground floor is step free and wheelchair accessible, but the mezzanine can only be reached by stairs. The experience uses strobe and flashing lights, and its makers do not recommend it for blind or visually impaired visitors. Captions and transcripts are not available yet. There is no cafe; cold drinks are sold at reception, and the toilets are outside the building. Animals are not allowed.
Tickets start at Dh75, with group rates for ten or more people from schools and for groups of 25 or more. Guests must be over five, and anyone aged five to 18 must come with an adult. Tickets will be sold on the Fever app and website, and at a box office on site while they last. They cannot be refunded, but a date or time can be changed up to 48 hours before the session. The exact opening day has not been announced: join the waiting list on Fever to hear first, and arrive at least ten minutes before your slot.