UAE art market receives growing international attention

In recent months, several world class art dealers have established a local presence highlighting the growing international interest in the UAE's art market.

Brian Haughton, co-organiser of 'Art Antiques Design Dubai', said:

"A number of dealers who exhibit at our New York and London fairs acknowledge that 'Art Antiques Design Dubai' provides a strong platform to connect with the region's top art patrons and buyers."

Haughton added, "We are pleased to announce that internationally recognised Arab art dealers, Ayyam Gallery will launch their new global brand at our February event in Dubai."

Originally set up in Damascus in 2006, Ayyam Gallery primarily deals in contemporary art from Syria, Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan and represents about 30 artists worldwide.

Following its participation at the inaugural 'Art Antiques Dubai' show, Ayyam Gallery opened a local branch, with plans to launch a new sub-division to expand their core art portfolio.

"The Middle Eastern market is diverse with definitive niches being formed around mediums such as photography, calligraphy and painting," said Hisham Samawi, Managing Partner at Ayyam Gallery in Dubai.

Under the brand Ayyam Fine Arts, the gallery will showcase selected pieces by older established artists from different countries in the Arab world whose contributions have shaped today's Arab art scene.

Samawi added, "There will always be strong demand for time-honoured artists of Middle Eastern artwork just as there will always be demand for works by Picasso. We have a strong collection of these works within the Ayyam Fine Art inventory that will attract Arab art buyers."

Some of the highlight pieces that Ayyam Gallery will be exhibiting at 'Art Antiques Design Dubai' include artworks by Moustafa Fathi, one of Syria's art pioneers along with paintings by Naim Ismail from Syria and by Samir Rafii from Egypt.

"We are excited to return for the second edition of 'Art Antiques Design Dubai'. We have chosen to launch the Ayyam Fine Art brand at the fair as we believe it will be more aligned to the clientele that visit Haughton International art fairs," concluded Samawi.