After years of rising, the Gulf’s art and cultural scene has reached a new level of maturity, increasingly becoming a global focal point for the world’s most respected institutions.
That has been especially clear over the past several months, as Sotheby’s, one of the world’s largest art brokers, announced it would hold its first auction in Saudi Arabia, several months after Abu Dhabi’s ADQ acquired a significant minority stake in the company.
Speaking to The National, Sotheby’s chief executive Charles F Stewart stresses that, particularly at a time when the South-East Asian market has softened, the Gulf has become a pillar of the art world.
“This region is really coming into its own,” says Stewart. "Its ambitions are being realised and that’s being showcased on the global stage. People talk about it everywhere.
“The Middle East really does stand out from any other region in the world, in terms of its growth, agenda, optimism and realised ambition. Both of these moves – the ADQ investment and our coming auction in Saudi Arabia – are symbols of our growing interest and commitment to the region.”
ADQ announced in August that it was investing roughly $1 billion in Sotheby’s, acquiring a minority stake alongside majority owner Patrick Drahi. For both parties, the investment was driven by more than money, but by strategic alignment.
This year, several of Abu Dhabi’s long-term plans for cultural development will come to fruition, with the Saadiyat Cultural District – including the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi – nearing completion. The district, which includes the already successful Louvre Abu Dhabi, is set to increase the emirate’s already significant cultural footprint dramatically. This has, in turn, increased Sotheby’s interest in being involved with Abu Dhabi directly.
“The significance of the investment is really about opening doors and opportunities – increasing connectivity and enhanced focus. That’s really exciting for us,” says Stewart.
Sotheby’s opened its Dubai outpost in 2017 and its activities in the emirate have grown steadily ever since. It has displayed numerous notable works from masters including Botticelli and Rembrandt, held auctions across art, motoring and luxury items and worked with local galleries to showcase regional art. They are activities it hopes to expand on in Abu Dhabi, once the business is legally established in the emirate.
“Everything that we’ve been doing in Dubai so successfully we also want to pivot to Abu Dhabi,” says Stewart.
Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi plans could include auctions on the level of what it is about to bring to the historic city of Diriyah in Saudi Arabia. On Saturday, the broker will auction works by Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Fernando Botero and more, opening a free exhibition showcasing the works of more than 50 renowned international and regional artists at the same location concurrently.
The event will feature many high collectors from the kingdom and across the region, but Sotheby’s will also be inviting members of their international network to the auction, says Stewart, which is intentional to help raise the region’s significance on the world art stage.
“We'll bring a group of collectors from around the world with us, to come and experience what's going on there," he adds. "We want to bring our network to the region, and so too we want to bring the region to our network.”
Auctions such as these do not only cater to individual collectors, however. Increasingly, institutions use these opportunities to build their permanent collections, especially museums in the region that have not opened yet. In November, an exhibition in Qatar displayed numerous artworks that will be included in the coming Lusail Museum, set to open in 2029. Some of the main works, including several from Orientalist artist Jean-Leon Gerome, were acquired via Sotheby’s auctions held over the past decade.
Whether any of the pieces at the Saudi auction will end up in regional museums is currently an unknown, but the general trend is something Stewart finds exciting.
“Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi each have significant opportunities to create museums from scratch, unencumbered by the legacy of hundreds of years of history," he says. "It’s fascinating to watch the development of each project, and the urgency of it as well. It’s extraordinary.
“In Abu Dhabi, I can’t wait to see what the impact of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and the Natural History Museum will have on the cultural awareness and engagement of residents and visitors alike. It’s totally transformative.”
For Sotheby’s, the Saudi auction will be a learning experience, with Stewart looking forward to seeing the results and getting a deeper understanding of what the market responds to, and what it potentially does not.
“We’re trying to do what’s appropriate for the moment based on collecting interests," he says. "We’ll see if we get it right. I hope we will. And then we’ll grow from there.”
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Rebel%20Moon%20-%20Part%20One%3A%20A%20Child%20of%20Fire
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Results
1. New Zealand Daniel Meech – Fine (name of horse), Richard Gardner – Calisto, Bruce Goodin - Backatorps Danny V, Samantha McIntosh – Check In. Team total First round: 200.22; Second round: 201.75 – Penalties 12 (jump-off 40.16 seconds) Prize €64,000
2. Ireland Cameron Hanley – Aiyetoro, David Simpson – Keoki, Paul Kennedy – Cartown Danger Mouse, Shane Breen – Laith. Team total 200.25/202.84 – P 12 (jump-off 51.79 – P17) Prize €40,000
3. Italy Luca Maria Moneta – Connery, Luca Coata – Crandessa, Simone Coata – Dardonge, Natale Chiaudani – Almero. Team total 130.82/198.-4 – P20. Prize €32,000
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
'Skin'
Dir: Guy Nattiv
Starring: Jamie Bell, Danielle McDonald, Bill Camp, Vera Farmiga
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Paltan
Producer: JP Films, Zee Studios
Director: JP Dutta
Cast: Jackie Shroff, Sonu Sood, Arjun Rampal, Siddhanth Kapoor, Luv Sinha and Harshvardhan Rane
Rating: 2/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham
Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate
Final: June 1, Madrid
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now
Match info
Liverpool 3
Hoedt (10' og), Matip (21'), Salah (45 3')
Southampton 0
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tottenham's 10 biggest transfers (according to transfermarkt.com):
1). Moussa Sissokho - Newcastle United - £30 million (Dh143m): Flop
2). Roberto Soldado - Valencia - £25m: Flop
3). Erik Lamela - Roma - £25m: Jury still out
4). Son Heung-min - Bayer Leverkusen - £25m: Success
5). Darren Bent - Charlton Athletic - £21m: Flop
6). Vincent Janssen - AZ Alkmaar - £18m: Flop
7). David Bentley - Blackburn Rovers - £18m: Flop
8). Luka Modric - Dynamo Zagreb - £17m: Success
9). Paulinho - Corinthians - £16m: Flop
10). Mousa Dembele - Fulham - £16m: Success
Results:
5pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600 metres
Winner: Dasan Da, Saeed Al Mazrooei (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Saabah, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: Mukaram, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 2,200m
Winner: MH Tawag, Richard Mullen, Elise Jeanne
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) | Dh70,000 | 1,400m
Winner: RB Inferno, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh100,000 | 1,600m
Winner: Juthoor, Jim Crowley, Erwan Charpy
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes
Cheat’s nigiri
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.
Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.
Deconstructed sushi salad platter
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can lead to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer.
There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.
Hepatitis C is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. This can occur through blood transfusions, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injecting drugs. Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common.
People infected with hepatitis C experience few or no symptoms, meaning they can live with the virus for years without being diagnosed. This delay in treatment can increase the risk of significant liver damage.
There are an estimated 170 million carriers of Hepatitis C around the world.
The virus causes approximately 399,000 fatalities each year worldwide, according to WHO.
