Christie’s, the renowned global auction house, is set to enhance its Middle Eastern footprint with the opening of a new franchise in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This will mark Christie’s second venture in the region, following the successful establishment of its Dubai branch in 2005, which has played a pivotal role in advancing Arab art and creativity.
The Riyadh franchise will be overseen by Nour Kelani, managing director at Christie’s. The announcement comes as part of Christie’s broader strategy to deepen its engagement with the rapidly evolving Saudi art scene.
Anthea Peers, Christie’s president for EMEA, discussed the timing of this expansion in an exclusive interview with Arab News. “Christie’s has a longstanding presence in the Middle East, with deep-rooted relationships with Saudi Arabian collectors based both in the Kingdom and around the world,” Peers noted. “In recent years, we have witnessed a considerable period of growth within the arts and culture sector—I have the privilege of visiting the Kingdom regularly and each time I am blown away by the passion, the ambition, and the creative talent that I encounter—and the time is undoubtedly right for this expansion.”
While the official opening date is still pending, Peers expressed enthusiasm about the new venture, saying, “Having recently established our entity, we look forward to completing all necessary formalities and further extending our business in the Kingdom as soon as possible.”
Christie’s Riyadh will focus on modern and contemporary Middle Eastern art, along with high-end jewelry and timepieces. The franchise also aims to connect with Saudi youth and emerging art collectors.
“Bearing in mind the high percentage of millennials in the Kingdom, it’s likely we will also continue to see an increase in engagement among this demographic for Arab artists, modern and contemporary art, as well as engagement with the secondary luxury sector,” Peers added.
The announcement comes amidst a surge in the Saudi art market, highlighted by recent notable sales at Christie’s. Abdulnasser Gharem’s “Message/Messenger,” a golden-domed wood-and-copper installation, fetched $842,500 in 2011, making it the highest-priced Saudi artwork sold by Christie’s. Manal AlDowayan’s “Dove,” sold earlier this year, achieved over $15,000—three times its low estimate—demonstrating strong interest from Middle Eastern buyers.
Additionally, Ahmed Mater’s “Magnetism” triptych, sold at Christie’s London for £189,000 (approx. SAR 935,000), and Dana Awartani’s “Icosahedron within a Dodecahedron,” sold in Dubai for £35,000, underscore the growing prominence of Saudi artists in the global market.
“Our Saudi Arabian clients have shown a diverse range of interests, from Old Master paintings to modern Middle Eastern art,” Peers said. “We have seen increased interest in several Arab artists, including Saudi artists Ahmed Mater, Manal AlDowayan, and Dana Awartani.”
As Saudi Arabia’s cultural landscape flourishes with new initiatives and institutions, Christie’s aims to support and elevate the local arts scene. “We will be honored to support the burgeoning arts scene in Saudi Arabia as part of the ongoing national diversification efforts,” Peers concluded. “We look forward to partnering with institutions, hosting exhibitions, and bringing international art highlights to the Kingdom, further raising awareness of Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural heritage.”