Art Market Resilience: Insider Perspectives From the Gulf and Beyond

Why It Matters

The rebound at Art Dubai and robust activity across major auction centers signal that demand and high-net-worth collector engagement remain intact, offering galleries, auction houses and investors renewed opportunities. These trends suggest the art market is adapting to geopolitical and public-health disruptions while maintaining liquidity and cultural momentum.

Summary

Christie’s hosted a webinar spotlighting renewed momentum across global art seasons, with speakers reporting energized markets in New York, London, Paris and Hong Kong and a resilient Middle East scene. Ridda, speaking from Art Dubai, described a downsized but well-attended fair where regional collectors and international galleries showed strong engagement, cultural institutions added depth, and sales activity began before the opening. Panelists framed the events as evidence of market resilience and a return to in-person connections after months of uncertainty, noting enhanced quality and selective buying. The conversation positioned these developments as tangible data points of recovery rather than a full return to pre-crisis scale.

Original Description

With an introduction by Bonnie Brennan, CEO of Christie’s, Josh Baer, Founder & CEO of The Baer Faxt in conversation with Sara Friedlander, Christie’s Chairman, Post-War & Contemporary Art, Americas; and Ridha Moumni, Christie’s Chairman, Middle East and Africa.

Together with Josh Baer, Christie’s chairmen Ridha Moumni in Dubai and Sara Friedlander in New York discuss how collectors are navigating the global art market during this time of uncertainty, and share expectations for the upcoming art fairs and auctions in each region.

This webinar was held on May 15, 2026.