Doha: HE Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Qatar Museums Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani affirmed that Doha's hosting of Art Basel Qatar represents an exceptional moment that brings together talent and industry. Her Excellency, speaking at a press conference held at the National Museum of Qatar with several partners in attendance, said that Art Basel Qatar was a true global art platform in the Middle-East, and that it was a new chapter that presents a cultural and art ecosystem that was 50 years in the making.
According to Qatar News Agency, Her Excellency added that Art Basel serves as a cornerstone not just as a marketplace, but as a catalyst for the State of Qatar's cultural vision, where art meets sport. She added the time was right to invite a global partner, after five decades of investment in culture and human development. She noted that the current period was ideally suited for launching this partnership alongside Doha's urban expansion and the transformation of the area into the world's first sustainable urban project, blending traditional Qatari architecture with contemporary design, which made the location ideal for the launch of Art Basel Qatar.
The Chairperson of Qatar Museums further noted that culture builds bridges in a divided world, connecting people across borders, fostering dialogue, building mutual trust, inspiring and uniting societies, and contributing to healing. She emphasized that the initiative does not merely present another art exhibition, but rather a platform that elevates creativity in the region while remaining focused on people and humanity.
Art Basel Qatar, the global cultural event taking place from Feb. 5 to 7, features 84 diverse artistic presentations from 31 countries and regions, distributed across 87 art galleries, including 16 galleries participating for the first time, offering unique and new artistic experiences at this global event in its fifth edition. This edition is organized through a partnership between Art Basel, Qatar Sports Investments, and QC+, a cultural commerce entity affiliated with Qatar Museums, forming the fifth edition of the global Art Basel series.
Her Excellency discussed during the press conference some of State of Qatar's cultural achievements over the past few years, including the establishment of the National Museum of Qatar, which was designed to preserve Qatar's history and heritage through numerous artistic and heritage works. She highlighted that the museum also provides international artists with the opportunity to integrate their works within this unique cultural context, in addition to hosting many exhibitions and initiatives supporting local and global filmmaking talent through the Doha Film Institute.
She said that the museum's design, inspired by the desert rose, draws from the formation of desert sand crystals and symbolizes the shaping of identity layer by layer, noting that this approach reflects a philosophy of respecting history, responding to the present, and remaining rooted in the past, as the future always emerges from those roots. She added that the decisive choice to invest in people and their development constituted one of the most important pillars of the long-term strategy that has been realized. She added that the first chapter of this strategy has been completed after 20 years of work, embodied in the establishment of the Museum of Islamic Art, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, and the National Museum of Qatar. She added that all those institutions were grounded in heritage and identity.
Her Excellency also highlighted the opening of the Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum in 2022, and the launch of Dadu Children's Museum of Qatar, placing children and families at the heart of future investments. She also highlighted the support for the installation of more than 100 public artworks by local, regional, and international artists in record time to welcome visitors from around the world during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Other achievements discussed by Her Excellency were such as the establishment of institutions dedicated to training, mentoring, and supporting creative talent, linking heritage with social development and the creative economy. Her Excellency noted the launch of Design Doha Biennale, and the organization of the first quadrennial celebrating the legacy of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, where art and sport came together in an unprecedented manner. Her Excellency also discussed several other projects, such as the Qatar Auto Museum, which celebrates the history of the automotive industry, and the Lusail Museum designed by Herzog and de Meuron, which explores historical, current, and future relationships through art and dialogue.
For his part, CEO of Art Basel Noah Horrowitz said that the opening of Art Basel in Qatar was a new, historic phase for the 75-year-old organization. He added that it was also a pivotal moment for the development of the art market. He expressed his pride at Art Basel's Partnership with Qatar Museums.
For his part, Chairman of Qatar Sports Investments Nasser Al Khelaifi affirmed that the National Museum of Qatar was not merely a well-designed building, but a living expression of Qatar's identity and vision. He noted that with the evolution of technology, the world has become smaller and more interconnected, and that arts, music, entertainment, and culture in general have become a shared global language, which makes Qatar an ideal location to host such initiatives.
Al Khelaifi pointed out that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 marked a pivotal moment not only for the State of Qatar, but for the entire region, as it left a tremendous legacy in terms of infrastructure, museums, airports, the quality of organization, security and safety, as well as in shaping the world's perception of the region. He said that people were given the opportunity to experience Qatari culture up close, visit homes, and learn about the country's history and values. He stressed that this legacy will endure, expressing confidence that Qatar is always capable of offering a unique perspective for any global event it hosts. He added that all the necessary elements are now in place, namely ambition, expertise, vision, and inspiration. He added that this momentum was extending from sport to culture, and from major events to creative institutions, describing this phase as the natural next step with all components already present.
In turn, HE Chairman of Qatar Tourism Saad bin Ali Al Kharji said that Qatar stands at an important moment for the country and for the international art community, as Doha prepares to host Art Basel. He noted that in the coming days, Qatar will be pleased to welcome leading artists, galleries, art collectors, and cultural leaders from around the world.
He added that the partnership with Art Basel reflected a shared ambition to connect culture with creativity and global exchange in a meaningful and impactful way. He said that over the past decade, Qatar established a solid foundation as a global cultural hub by investing in world-class museums, developing integrated cultural districts, and hosting major international events, noting that Art Basel Qatar builds on this progress and firmly anchors Doha on the global map of leading cultural destinations. He also said that for Visit Qatar, this partnership underscored a commitment to integrating culture into the tourism destination experience and reflects the depth of the country's engagement with the global art community. Through Art Basel, he noted, Qatar was extending an open invitation to the international art community to engage with Doha as a space for art, a source of inspiration, and a platform for creative exchange.
He pointed out that the exhibition will not be limited to celebrating talent, but will also contribute to the development of cultural experiences. Through a diverse range of accompanying events, the exhibition will highlight artists connected to the destination and Qatar's cultural narratives, enhancing exchange between local talent and the international creative community. His Excellency Al Kharji emphasized that culture, alongside the creative industries, has the power to empower talent, strengthen cultural identity, and build genuine bridges between Qatar and the world.
Director, Fairs and Exhibition Platforms at Art Basel Vincenzo de Bellis said that Art Basel Qatar was not designed to replicate any of the other Art Basel fairs. Rather, it was conceived explicitly and implicitly from the specificity of Doha and its history, in order to highlight the element of integration and convergence that characterizes the city.
He added that Art Basel Qatar was shaped through close collaboration and a shared understanding that this edition is not a final statement or a closed formula, but a living project that continues to evolve. He explained that the exhibition does not seek to present a complete or definitive identity, whether for the region or for Art Basel Qatar itself, but is deliberately open, designed to suggest ideas and provoke questions.
For his part, artist Wael Shawky, Artistic Director of Art Basel Qatar, stated that what excited him most about taking on this responsibility was the idea of bringing artists and galleries from the region into a genuine dialogue with the global art scene. He noted that at its core, Art Basel Qatar is an art market, but one unlike any that has existed before.
Shawky presented his vision for the design of Art Basel Qatar, noting that the exhibition's open format is not merely about a layout that appears visually different, but rather a structure that places each artist's practice in its proper context, gives each presentation the space needed to convey a complete idea and deeper narrative, and allows sufficient time for engagement with the works. He explained that the first edition of Art Basel Qatar revolves around the concept of 'in the making,' reflecting both the region and Art Basel Qatar itself as platforms in a state of continuous evolution.