In March Dubai hosted the first international contemporary art fair ever held in the Middle East. Although already a recognised world business hub, the advent of the Art Fair marks Dubai's ambitious move to position itself as a major competitor in the international art market.
Better known for it's opulent modernity, contemporary architecture and desert setting, than for its cultural scene, cynics have pondered the wisdom behind choosing Dubai as a venue for this inaugural artfair. Founders of the fair, sponsored by the Dubai International Financial Centre, have quashed these criticisms by pointing...