NewsExhibitions
eL Seed brings his brand of contemporary calligraphy to London for first UK show
French-Tunisian artist’s 'tabula rasa' paintings at Lazinc will challenge “deep-seated preconceptions” about Arabic script
InterviewMuseums & Heritage
The women taking charge in the Gulf's rising art scene
With many of the region’s museums, fairs and festivals under female leadership, we talk to three key decision-makers
PreviewExhibitions
Two new shows highlight the politics of being apolitical in the powderkeg Middle East
Exhibitions in Doha on the history of Syria and revolutions in the Arab world tread a fine line
CommentMiddle East
Why being a royal artist in the Gulf is a mixed blessing
Rashid Al Khalifa of Bahrain is showing his art in London’s Saatchi Gallery
NewsPrivate Museums
Iraqi artist Dia Azzawi designs new Lebanese private museum
The Nabu Museum collection combines antiquities with Modern and contemporary art
NewsArt market
Abraaj Group liquidators to sell 200 works from art collection at Bonhams
Middle Eastern and South Asian works owned by embattled Dubai-based private equity firm carry much lower estimates than prices paid a decade ago
ReviewArt market
Beirut Art Fair gives helping hand to embattled Egyptian galleries
Lebanese event cuts 'special offer' to help Egypt's galleries exhibit abroad and invests $100,000 in outreach to encourage collectors from further afield
NewsArt market
Embattled private equity firm Abraaj Group fails to renew Art Dubai sponsorship
Plans to lend the Abraaj Group Art Prize collection to the Jameel Art Centre are also on hold
NewsLaw
Parviz Tanavoli banned from leaving Iran over legal dispute with former gallery owner
Maryam Goudarzi claims that the artist should return six 1972 sculptures worth $6m to her, but Tanavoli says they were swapped legally for five newer works
NewsArt market
Unpaid invoices, vetting issues and bad marketing: dealers call out ‘mismanaged’ Bahrain fair
Despite a group of exhibitors describing Art Bahrain Across Borders as disappointing, royal patron says event will continue
NewsArt market
Myrna Ayad steps down as Art Dubai director, while fair plans to move Modern section in 2019
Ayad says decision to leave was "personal" and plans to launch her own art consultancy
NewsOpenings
New cultural hub set to open in West Bank amid political tension
Omar Al-Qattan, chair of the A.M. Qattan Foundation, explains the many challenges of building an arts space under occupation
NewsMuseums
British Museum rekindles relationship with Zayed National Museum after loan deal ended last year
Under new partnership, the London museum will lend key objects to the new institution in Abu Dhabi
NewsExhibitions
British Museum show focuses on Assyrian antiquities targeted by Islamic State
Loans likely to come from Iran—but works from the Met would not meet London museum's strict borrowing guidelines
NewsArt market
Iran’s art market defies expectations in face of US sanctions with new fair
In a first for Iran, the Teer Art fair is set to open in June amid a growing but fragile market environment
NewsContemporary art
From Brussels to Bogotá: where will the Pompidou pop up next?
As museum's teaser show opens in the Belgian capital, its president, Serge Lasvignes, tells us about branching out from Paris
NewsCommissions
Emerging Arab artists to get international shows through new commissioning initiative
Six partner institutions including the Hammer Museum are behind collaborative art production model
CommentLeaders
What we can learn from Saudi art
Suddenly, a lot of money is flowing through the kingdom for the promotion of contemporary art and culture
InterviewExhibitions
Ai Weiwei: 'I'm impressed Qatar wants my show about refugees'
The dissident Chinese artist on why he's tackling the global refugee crisis in his first exhibition in the Gulf
NewsMuseums
Against the odds, Louvre exhibition opens in Tehran in historic deal
French museum became first cultural institution to secure ties with Islamic regime after sanctions lifted in 2016
NewsArt market
Abraaj Group's partnership with Art Dubai to continue, despite reorganisation
Founder Arif Naqvi's departure from the private equity firm's asset management business in February followed claims the company had misused investor funds
NewsCommissions
Kuwaiti artists awarded inaugural Art Jameel commission for new Dubai culture complex
Alia Farid and Aseel AlYacoub will create a light-up botanical garden linking both wings of the Jameel Arts Centre
NewsMuseums
How the Middle Eastern museum and collecting scene have flowered
Anna Somers Cocks, founder-editor of The Art Newspaper, in discussion with Roxane Zand of Sotheby’s at the Asia Society, New York, 1 March
NewsArt market
Middle Eastern artists are charging a lot of money to certify—or condemn—their works
But when does protecting a creative legacy go too far?
NewsBiennials & festivals
What to see at 21,39—Saudi Arabia’s contemporary art festival
Critics choose highlights from fifth edition of the Jeddah show, organised by Tate curator Vassilis Oikonomopoulos
NewsOpenings
New Art Jameel space for contemporary art to launch in Saudi Arabia in 2019
The Hayy: Creative Hub centre in Jeddah is latest cultural offering announced in the rebranded Kingdom
NewsControversies
Louvre Abu Dhabi replaces map that omitted Qatar after international outcry
Museum claims it was an "oversight", but others say it was political
NewsMiddle East
Artists sign letter in support of Lorde's decision to cancel gig in Israel
Shepard Fairey, Peter Kennard and Emily Young among those who back singer after she was branded an anti-semitic bigot in a full-page advert in the Washington Post
NewsMuseums
Saudi mega museum—King Abdulaziz Center in Dhahran—is finally moving ahead
Cultural powerhouse in the Gulf—backed by Aramco—is extending its local and global reach
NewsMiddle East
Muslim leaders across the Middle East work with Israeli rabbis to keep the peace
Interfaith network says that its efforts are more difficult—and urgent—since President Trump’s declaration on Jerusalem’s status
NewsArtists
Banksy and Danny Boyle create Alternativity in Bethlehem, despite never meeting
Street artist and film director staged performance that was filmed for BBC Two documentary which will air this weekend
NewsArt market
Abu Dhabi Art censors work by Saudi Arabian artist
Abdulnasser Gharem’s painting about Sunni-Shia divide was removed from Brigitte Schenk's stand at organisers' request
NewsArt market
Middle East anti-fake drive triggers refund
Bonhams returns £176,500 for piece attributed to Egyptian sculptor
NewsPrivate Museums
Pioneers of Lebanese painting star in private museum near the Syrian border
Collector Emile Hannouche has opened his family mansion in the Bekaa Valley to the public
NewsExhibitions
Secret objects tell life story of Emirati conceptual pioneer Hassan Sharif
Sharjah show recreates late artist’s studio
NewsMuseums
Marrakech bids to become hub for contemporary African art as museum plans relaunch alongside 1:54 fair
Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden will hold "international opening" in February
NewsExhibitions
Largest survey of Qatari contemporary art to open in Berlin despite ongoing blockade
Exhibition is final event in Year of Culture partnership between Qatar and Germany
NewsLouvre Abu Dhabi
Swiss journalists reporting on opening of Louvre Abu Dhabi detained for two days
The pair were blindfolded then interrogated for up to 10 hours by authorities over their coverage of migrant workers
NewsWar
Letter from Yemen: artist speaks out about his country’s 'forgotten war'
Ahmed Jahaf describes what it is like to live through catastrophic conflict
FeaturePodcast
Abu Dhabi Focus podcast, episode three: how the UAE art scene became a force to be reckoned with
Art dealer Thaddaeus Ropac and curator Maya Allison tell us how the nation’s creative ambitions have blossomed. Plus: Silver Lion-winning musician and artist Hassan Khan on his Abu Dhabi Art performance
FeaturePodcast
Abu Dhabi Focus podcast, episode two: How Saudi artists are driving political change
As Abu Dhabi Art fair opens, we speak to the Saudi artists Manal Al Dowayan and Ahmed Mater. Plus: Iraq's Dia Azzawi on creating the Arab world's Guernica
NewsArt fairs
In the afterglow of Louvre Abu Dhabi’s opening, Abu Dhabi Art moves up a notch
Some dealers at the fair report brisk early business but say big sales are a waiting game
FeaturePodcast
Abu Dhabi Focus podcast, episode one: Louvre Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Art
With all eyes on Abu Dhabi this week, we speak to the architect Jean Nouvel on designing the Arab world's first universal museum. Plus: a preview of Abu Dhabi Art fair
NewsArt market
Abu Dhabi Art set to benefit from Louvre opening
This year’s fair has 13 new exhibitors and is hoping for more international visitors
NewsArt market
Collectors tackle rise in fake Modern Middle Eastern art
Dalloul Art Foundation investigates authenticity of some Middle Eastern works before museum opening
NewsExhibitions
Saudi artist Abdulnasser Gharem to have first solo US show at Lacma
Former lieutenant colonel in the Saudi Arabian army is known for his politically and socially engaged works that draw on his Muslim heritage
CommentProtest
Why I made a cemetery for hundreds of banned books in Kuwait
Kuwaiti artist Mohammad Sharaf hopes to provoke the general public as well as the authorities
Mohammad Sharaf