UAE | Heritage and Culture
Enthusiastic group of art collectors lures dealers
The UAE's multinational population has bred a vibrant and enthusiastic group of art collectors, attracting dealers and galleries who hope to cash in on the growing sophistication of tastes here.
- By Abbas Al Lawati, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 March 31, 2007
Dubai: The UAE's multinational population has bred a vibrant and enthusiastic group of art collectors, attracting dealers and galleries who hope to cash in on the growing sophistication of tastes here.
Those in the art industry here say that it is a cyclical process that continues to grow.
Collector interest attracts dealers, which attracts artists to come here, which gives the collectors more to buy, and so on. In the past few years, they say, there has been tremendous growth in interest in art, which has led the UAE to be increasingly recognised as a potential centre of art in the Middle East.
The London-based Christie's auction house opened a representative office in Dubai in March 2005 to act as a gateway for local clients, but soon realised its potential and now functions as an auction house as well. In its first two auctions this year, Christie's earned a total of $21.2 million (about Dh77.8 million) in Dubai.
William Lawrie, Specialist for Modern and Contemporary Arab and Iranian Art at Christie's in Dubai, says that collectors voiced an interest in having auctions held closer to home, to avoid having to fly to Europe. Today, Christie's in Dubai attracts buyers from all over the region.
"In our last exhibition, only 37 per cent of the buyers were UAE residents," he says.
Amnah Dabbagh, co-founder of the Green Art gallery which recently celebrated its 12th anniversary, says that Dubai's growing prominence in the international art scene is a "delight" to gallery owners.
More from UAE Heritage & Culture
More from UAE
Latest news
- Tracks to be laid on recycled material
- Golden Hour crucial to a patient's survival
- Opening show worthy of UAE
- Sun is shining on prospects for solar power
- Artists focus on craftsmanship
- World leaders committed to supporting civilians
- Schools open a new page in teaching English
- Special parking to help disabled tourists
- Helping hand surgeons have long sought
- Blind woman lights up corridors of power
- In Mind
- At times, I think of committing suicide
- Designer of a creative haven
- Fund to help Dubai taxi drivers' families
- New life-saving fleet of vehicles
Community Reports
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
-
Supporting the needy with food supplies
Group of families engaged in serving isolated labour community hopes to motivate more people to help underprivileged and hungry
-
Leukaemia boy granted wish to meet footballer
Emirati meets hero Al Qahtani, Al Ain team
