Qatar diplomatic crisis threatens cultural investments

The diplomatic crisis in the Middle East, which led to the partial isolation of Qatar following terrorist attacks in Britain, could have major repercussions on the cultural front, destabilizing institutions and risking partnerships in the region. Qatar, a small but wealthy peninsula on the Persian Gulf, is one of the world's largest buyers of contemporary art. Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, president of the Qatar Museums Authority, is considered the most powerful woman in the art system according to ArtReview's Power List, with an estimated acquisition budget of over one billion dollars per year. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and Egypt have cut all political and economic ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting Islamic terrorism. Flag carriers of the involved countries have blocked all flights to and from Doha, causing a collapse in cultural tourism, as reported by Gareth Harris and Aimee Dawson in The Art Newspaper. Major architectural projects in Doha are at risk, including a tower commissioned in 2013 from Zaha Hadid Architects (due 2020), a new art center on Doha Bay by Alejandro Aravena (due 2022), and the National Museum of Qatar by Jean Nouvel, already under construction. Existing museums like the Museum of Islamic Art and the Mathaf Arab Museum of Modern Art have historically maintained good cultural relations with institutions across the Middle East.