Sharjah and Doha: Contrasting Art Scenes in the Gulf

Sharjah, the third-largest emirate in the UAE, is a cultural capital with a conservative yet vibrant art scene. UNESCO named it Arab Cultural Capital in 1998 and Islamic Culture Capital in 2014. The Sharjah Art Foundation, led by Sheikha Hoor Al Qassimi, oversees the Sharjah Biennial (14th edition in March 2019, titled 'Leaving the Echo Chamber') and commissions major works. Key institutions include the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization (5,000+ artifacts), Sharjah Art Museum, Barjeel Art Foundation, and Maraya Art Centre. In contrast, Doha, Qatar, boasts a wealth-driven art market led by Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums Authority, with an annual acquisition budget of €850 million. Major acquisitions include Paul Gauguin's 'When Will You Marry?' ($300M) and Cézanne's 'The Card Players' ($250M). Landmark museums include the Museum of Islamic Art (2008, by I.M. Pei) and Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art. However, Qatar faces human rights scrutiny ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and a diplomatic rift with Saudi Arabia and other GCC states since June 2017 has isolated it. The National Museum of Qatar, designed by Jean Nouvel, is slated for 2020.