In the current economic uproar of Gulf markets, art is in the spotlight, and among the various genres, Iranian works are in high demand in Dubai. “Galleries have been progressively setting up shop in Dubai for the last five years; today there are some 25 of them,” said Myrna Ayad, special project manager at Mixed Media Publishing, owners of the art magazine Canvas. The growth of the UAE art scene has been dovetailed by the advent of fine art auctioneers and valuers such as Christie’s or Bonhams, recently establishing offices or organizing auctions in the Emirates. Initiatives such as the Dubai and Abu Dhabi art fairs have contributed significantly to developing the scene. Other events, such as hosting the collection of Jewish Persian Nasser David Khalili — one of the wealthiest men in England — have placed Dubai on the international cultural map. Sharjah having been named cultural capital of
