UAE Culture Minister opens 'Art Antiques Design Dubai'

The fair was officially opened by H.E. Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al-Owais, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth, and Community Development.

For the second edition of 'Art Antiques Design Dubai', organisers have worked in partnership with the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Dubai First who are the leading sponsors of the event.

"The second annual "Art Antiques Design Dubai" fair will be a landmark in the cultural calendar and a mainstay of the Arts movement in the UAE. The fair will not only be an opportunity for visitors to discover the realm of arts, but also a means to recognize the creative movement," said Al-Owais.

Al Owais also praised the new initiative launched by the Haughtons, in partnership with the Dubai Ladies Club, to host a special ladies day at the 2009 fair stating that such unparalleled opportunities further interest and knowledge among women across the region seeking to collect or create art."

Brian Haughton, organizer of the 'Arts Antiques Design Dubai', led the ministers on an official, guided tour of the fair with the official delegation pausing to talk with gallery owners from around the world.

International exhibitors at the fair saw a record number of sales made on the opening night with art connoisseurs arriving for the fair from Turkey, KSA, Oman, Qatar, Tokyo and the Asian sub-continent.

Arwa Al Ghammai, Director of Operations and Liaison at the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), said:

"DTCM has taken several initiatives to encourage art and culture in the emirate and has successfully positioned Dubai as a cultural hub. We believe that this year's fair will have a strong role in expanding and encouraging higher standards of art in the region. We envision Dubai to develop into a key destination on the global art map. Artists and art lovers have long been a part of Dubai's vibrant lifestyle. Dubai has a burgeoning art scene. This fair is yet another step towards achieving the goals set for Dubai.

"The second edition of the fair is set to attract increased interest from both experienced and new art lovers across the region ," said Giles Haughton, event director of 'Art Antiques Design Dubai'.

The fair is expected to draw large crowds from across the Gulf over the next four days. Collecting categories on display include Islamic works of art; silver; antique and modern jewellery; rare porcelain; a broad range of furniture and decorative arts; and fine art, including Middle Eastern, Indian, and Western paintings, drawings, and sculpture.