If you needed any more proof that the Middle Eastern art scene is booming right now, Art Basel Qatar is debuting this February, marking the fair’s fifth edition globally, and bringing together 87 participants from 31 countries and territories, many hailing from the region. Set across M7 and the Doha Design District in Msheireb, the tightly-curated debut places the region’s burgeoning gallery ecosystem firmly in the spotlight, but if you’re already overwhelmed with where to start, these three standout galleries championing Middle Eastern artists are well worth your time.
Gallery Isabelle, Dubai
A Dubai stalwart, Gallery Isabelle is dedicating its debut Art Basel presentation, The Leap Between, to late Emirati artist Hassan Sharif (1951–2016), a pioneering figure in conceptual and experimental practice in the Gulf. “Hassan Sharif maintained an experimental practice throughout his forty-year career, in which experimentation, chance and error played a central role,” founder Isabelle de Caters tells MOJEH. “Unforeseen outcomes were not only accepted but fully integrated into the work, and the final result often depended on variables such as materials, space or even random mathematical formulas.”
From wall-mounted “objects” made using everyday materials such as gravel and aluminium food trays, to delicate drawings in which numbers are translated into lines, the exhibition reveals how two seemingly opposing trajectories – Objects and Semi-Systems – coexist within a single conceptual approach. “You might not immediately imagine that the same artist produced these distinct bodies of work, yet a consistent conceptual thread runs through them all,” adds Isabelle. What’s more, rather than focusing only on finished pieces, The Leap Between covers the creative process too, including a model for the unrealised public sculpture Arish (2008), inspired by traditional palm-frond shelters once used across the Arabian Peninsula. “Sharif understood all his works as inherently process-driven and always in progress,” she continues. “Through Arish, he revitalises an ancient handicraft, positioning it as a meaningful and viable medium for contemporary art.”
What’s next in 2026: Gallery Isabelle will be introducing three new artists this year, with names due to be announced in due course. For now, Ramadan will see an exhibition by Turkish artists :mentalKLINIK, which will surround visitors in a 360-degree installation of mirrored panels printed with camouflage patterns and imagery that reflects our hyper-connected, capitalist society.
Sfeir-Semler Gallery, Beirut
Presenting a selection of works by the late Marwan Kassab-Bachi, a Syrian-German painter known for his intense figurative works cantered on the human face, Beirut’s Sfeir-Semler Gallery is paying tribute to the man who moved between Europe and the Arab world throughout his career, a duality that makes his work especially resonant for the fair’s inaugural edition. “Marwan is one of the most prominent modern artists out of the region, straddling both Europe and the Arab world as a Syrian-German,” says Léa Chikhani, the gallery’s director at large. “Since he passed away in 2016, his work has been presented in major exhibitions such as the 2017 central exhibition at La Biennale in Venice, or more recently at the Insitut Giacometti in Paris, but his major paintings remain rarely seen in the region. It’s great to be able to change that.”
The thought-provoking exhibition centres on Marwan’s iconic work, Heads, tracing the evolution of his practice from the 1960s through the 1980s. “In the early 70s, he started to focus solely on the human face, using a horizontal format,” explains Léa. “Over the years, these works morphed into what he called ‘heads’, which he continued to paint for more than three decades, in a constant soul-searching exercise.”
Those heading to the fair can expect a small but powerful grouping of works that chart this progression, revealing the emotional depth and intensity that define Marwan’s practice. “Although few works are on show, they highlight the evolution of his painting and why he is such an important figure,” adds Léa, expressing hope that audiences will be drawn into these meditative portraits – intimate encounters with the human soul that continue to influence generations of artists today.
What’s next in 2026: Palestinian-Jordanian artist Bayan Kiwan has kicked off 2026 at Sfier-Semler with a solo exhibition bringing together new paintings and ceramics highlighting her exploration of inside the home, which will be running until 28 March. One of the gallery’s regional artists, Dana Awartani from Saudi, will also be representing at La Biennale de Venice taking place later this year.
Al Markhiya Gallery, Qatar
As Qatar’s oldest privately-owned gallery, Al Markhiya is something of a legend in the region, having opened its doors way back in 2008. For Art Basel Qatar, it is shining the spotlight on Qatari artist Bouthayna Al Muftah, whose new exhibition Living: Architectures of Memory has been curated especially for the event. “The main aim of our gallery is to act as a catalyst presenting emerging and established Qatari artists both locally and globally,” gallery director Anas Kutit tells MOJEH. “Bouthayna Al Muftah’s practice utilises an array of natural materials and explores the power of Qatari history, tradition and culture, reinterpreting heritage as a living archive and questioning issues that include our experience of time, the ways we understand ourselves collectively through community, and how shifts in our cultural heritage reflect on Qatari society today.”
The installation itself takes shape as an immersive, living archive built around personal stories, family ties and traditions, with the traditional Qatari thobe, crafted from natural materials and delicately hand-braided details inspired by heritage jewellery, at its heart. Highlighting women’s dress as a powerful expression of identity and lineage, the braiding in particular points to a quiet resistance against cultural loss. “The audience will be given the opportunity to experience the thobe almost like an exploded book that one can look through and see a multitude of layers, which hint at how cultural history and beliefs surround us and help shape our identities,” explains Kutit. “It’s an honour to be able to share with visitors the work of talented artists who are creating in the country.”
What’s next in 2026: There are several exhibitions in the pipeline at Al Markhiya this year, including GIŠMMAR: Between Heaven and Mud, a showcase by Iraqi artist Salem Mathkour held through February and March that will reflect on southern Iraq, Sumerian heritage, resilience and the passage of time using the date palm as his medium. At the same time, Qatari artist Asma Sami, who works in acrylic, watercolour and ink, will be working with garments, objects and customs associated with daily life and moments of celebration, including items like the niqab, in another eye-opening exhibition. Art Basel Qatar is taking place from 5-7 February. Learn more
