Beyond the Art Fair: Collecting and Discovering Arab Art
A conversation on discovering and collecting Arab art with Nadine Khoury
As the region’s art calendar continues to grow, with international fairs, museums, galleries and cultural institutions drawing increasingly global audiences, how can collectors also use these moments to look more closely at the artists and practices emerging from the Arab world?
Timed around Frieze Abu Dhabi, this conversation offers an accessible introduction to discovering and collecting Arab art. Moving beyond the art fair booth, we will explore how collectors can engage with artist studios, galleries, foundations, museums and cultural programmes across the region to develop a deeper understanding of the work they encounter.
The talk will consider how to begin building a collection with intention, what to look for beyond aesthetics or market trends, and why context, research and direct engagement with artists and cultural ecosystems matter. It will also explore how Arab artists can become part of wider curatorial and collecting conversations—not as a separate category, but as an integral part of contemporary art.
About:
Nadine Khoury is a Dubai-based art advisor, curator, and writer of Palestinian and Syrian heritage. With experience managing galleries in Canada, New York, and Dubai, and working at Christie’s, she brings an international perspective to the region’s art scene.
She holds a bachelor's degree in Curatorial and Criticism Studies from OCAD University in Toronto and a master's degree in Art Business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York. In 2018, she founded Nasij Art Advisory to support emerging artists and guide new collectors, and later established Dubai’s Young Collectors Circle to foster engagement with art through educational programmes, studio visits, and discussions.
Timed around Frieze Abu Dhabi, this conversation offers an accessible introduction to discovering and collecting Arab art. Moving beyond the art fair booth, we will explore how collectors can engage with artist studios, galleries, foundations, museums and cultural programmes across the region to develop a deeper understanding of the work they encounter.
The talk will consider how to begin building a collection with intention, what to look for beyond aesthetics or market trends, and why context, research and direct engagement with artists and cultural ecosystems matter. It will also explore how Arab artists can become part of wider curatorial and collecting conversations—not as a separate category, but as an integral part of contemporary art.
About:
Nadine Khoury is a Dubai-based art advisor, curator, and writer of Palestinian and Syrian heritage. With experience managing galleries in Canada, New York, and Dubai, and working at Christie’s, she brings an international perspective to the region’s art scene.
She holds a bachelor's degree in Curatorial and Criticism Studies from OCAD University in Toronto and a master's degree in Art Business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York. In 2018, she founded Nasij Art Advisory to support emerging artists and guide new collectors, and later established Dubai’s Young Collectors Circle to foster engagement with art through educational programmes, studio visits, and discussions.
DATE
November 10, 2026, 7:00 PM
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