Doha, Qatar: Chairperson of Qatar Museums H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani has described the launch of Art Basel Qatar as a defining moment in the country’s five-decade cultural journey, positioning the fair as both a global platform and a catalyst for regional creativity.
Speaking at a press conference held at the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) yesterday, Sheikha Al Mayassa said the partnership with Art Basel signals the emergence of “Art Valley” in the Middle East and reflects Qatar’s long-term investment in culture, human development and creative industries.
She credited the vision of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and the foundational cultural strategy initiated by Father Amir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, for enabling the country to reach this milestone.
In attendance at the event were Chairman of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Art Basel CEO Noah Horowitz, Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Chair of the Board of Directors of Visit Qatar H E Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, and other dignitaries.
Sheikha Al Mayassa traced Qatar’s cultural evolution back to 1975, when the first National Museum was established to preserve the nation’s heritage and narrate its story in its own voice.
Since then, Qatar has built a wide-ranging ecosystem that includes the Museum of Islamic Art, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar and the 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum, alongside extensive public art installations and film initiatives that have nurtured generations of creative talent.
According to Sheikha Al Mayassa, this patient long-term approach has allowed Qatar to avoid short-term trends and instead focus on institutions designed to endure.
She highlighted upcoming projects such as the Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar, the Art Mill Museum, the Qatar Auto Museum and a new museum island designed by Herzog & de Meuron, which will explore East-West dialogue through art and serve as an expanded home for Art Basel Qatar.
She stressed that Art Basel Qatar is intended to be more than a marketplace, describing it as a human-centred platform that fosters dialogue, trust and understanding in an increasingly divided world.
The fair’s first edition will take place in Msheireb Downtown Doha, which she described as a model of sustainable urban regeneration blending traditional Qatari architecture with contemporary design.
Sheikha Al Mayassa said Qatar’s cultural strategy is rooted in the belief that culture builds bridges, heals divisions and invites the world to engage more deeply with the region.
“We are here not just to present another art fair,” she said, “but to uplift the creativity of an entire region and invite meaningful global conversations.”
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of Qatar Tourism said that the hosting of Art Basel in Doha reflects the country’s shared ambition to connect culture, creativity and global extension in a way that is both meaningful and impactful. “For the past decade, Qatar has built a strong foundation as a cultural hub, investing in world-class museums, creative districts and the hosting of major global events. Art Basel Qatar builds on that progress, firmly placing Doha on the global calendar of cultural milestones,” he said.
