Introduction

In the last 15 years, the Gulf region has realised its position as a leading global centre for the visual arts. A robust grassroots arts movement led by internationally pertinent artists and curators underpins the boom in the construction of museums and galleries. Similarly, an increase in art fairs, events and biennales is validated through socio-politically driven curatorial undercurrents.

     Our report provides a snapshot of the current art scene in the Middle East through the lens of the two dominant arts nations: the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This report is not Gulf art then and now but a look at the defining trends that are shaping the sector—outlining the full spectrum of the region’s capacity and likely directions of travel and arts infrastructure
in the coming years.

     The Western art world has undergone a radical change in the way it supposes dominance over other territories. With powerhouses such as Saudi and the UAE injecting unprecedented funds into the arts and providing strong infrastructures for the creative sectors, a fire has been lit under the leading interests of international collectors and curators alike. Where economies are built on hydrocarbons, diversifying economies towards the creative industries has become increasingly prevalent. 

     The UAE has been driving this shift, with KSA coming up fast on its heels with its size and wealth, prompting both dialogue and competition. This is not a story of change driven from the top or the bottom, but more of a meeting in the middle between large-scale government investment and long-running grassroots movements, led by a predominance of female creatives and asserted by the next generation.