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Forget everything you know about art fairs! Art Basel is flipping the script in Doha this February. From the 5th to the 7th, get ready for a breathtaking, curated journey that shatters the boring grid of booths. The global art scene is officially reimagined!

At the creative heart of this artistic revolution is Wael Shawky. This brilliant Egyptian-born visionary is the Artistic Director, steering this debut with a radical vision. He's transforming a commercial event into a fluid, thematic experience.

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The Magic Word is "Becoming"

The entire fair pulses around one powerful theme: "Becoming." This isn't about static art or fixed identities. It’s a celebration of movement—social, historical, and poetic. Shawky crafted this concept to mirror the Gulf’s dazzling transformation and our universal human itch for change. This theme masterfully bridges tradition and digital modernity.

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Say goodbye to crowded aisles! The classic layout is gone. Instead, you'll wander an open, immersive environment. Each of the 84 presentations from 87 global galleries will be a focused, single-artist project. This genius shift encourages slower looking and pure, curious discovery. You’re not walking into a marketplace; you’re stepping inside a living story.

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A Spotlight on Regional Brilliance

This is a fair with a powerful local heartbeat. Over half of the artists hail from the MENASA region, placing its vibrant arts ecosystem squarely in the global spotlight. You’ll find phenomenal talents like:

• Ali Cherri (Almine Rech), exploring human-animal myths.
• Mona Hatoum (Galerie Chantal Crousel), presenting works on vulnerability.
• Marlene Dumas (David Zwirner), showing her profound Against the Wall series.
• Pioneers like the late Hasan Sharif (Gallery Isabelle) and the transformative fabric works of El Anatsui (October Gallery).

Art Takes Over the City!

The excitement isn’t confined to the main venue. The Special Projects programme spills out into Msheireb Downtown Doha! Nine artists, including legends like Bruce Nauman and Nalini Malani, have created jaw-dropping installations in public and heritage sites. Imagine encountering Rayyane Tabet’s palm-frond palace or relaxing in Sumayya Vally’s evolving majlis. This is art woven directly into the city’s cultural fabric.

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More Than a Fair: A Cultural Legacy

This groundbreaking event is a key part of Qatar's cultural ambitions. It’s a bold statement that repositions the Middle East as an epicentre of deep intellectual and artistic production, not just a new market. The goal? To build lasting global connections that support artists for the long term.

So, what’s the ultimate takeaway? Shawky hopes you leave with a genuine sense of place and possibility. He invites you to experience Doha as a thriving hub of curiosity and generous exchange.

The doors are opening on a new chapter. This is your chance to witness a visionary idea become a breathtaking, shared reality. Get ready to become part of the story.