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Global interest in the Middle East's fast-growing equestrian sector
- and in the grace and speed of Arabian horses in particular - has
driven the Dubai International Horse Fair (DIHF) to become the
largest event of its kind in the entire region.
Expectations are high that the exhibition will draw the highest
number of international visitors in its history, when it runs from
20 - 22 March at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition
Centre, alongside the Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship
(DIAHC). Over a quarter of visitors came from Europe, Asia and
Africa for the previous edition and organiser Dubai World Trade
Centre (DWTC) is confident it can build on this record of global
success.
On display will be many leading international manufacturers and
distributors of saddles, horse feed, supplements and hay, stable
equipment and trailers, medical supplies, and equine massage.
Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and Industry, DIHF
has quickly developed a strong reputation as an important networking
and business development platform for companies and professionals in
the industry.
Abdulla Quassem, Board Member - Higher Organising Committee of Dubai
International Horse Fair and Dubai International Arabian Horse
Championship, said: 'The Dubai International Horse Fair serves the
diverse equestrian community of the whole region and is an
increasingly important date for the global industry. For visitors,
there will be the opportunity to meet not only with suppliers and
manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors, but also with a large
number of international stud and stable owners as well as breeders
of Arabian and Thoroughbred horses. There is no other event that
brings the whole industry together.'
Presenting their successful breeds in DIHF are, among others, Ajman
Stud, AL Naif Stud (Qatar) Cavalry of Oman, Frison (France),
Shadwell (Dubai) and Sharjah Stud.
Over the three days, guests will be able to see Arabian horses in
competition at the Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship.
For 2008, total prize money set by H H Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al
Maktoum will be a staggering $4m, making it one of the richest
competitions of its kind. Horses will enter from the Americas,
Europe, GCC and UAE.
One of the major highlights for visitors is the opportunity to buy
horses in the two day auction for Arabians and Thoroughbreds by Al
Faisal Stud. Over 200 horses will be auctioned and participants can
enter a raffle draw to win a horse.
Another successful feature at DIHF is the veterinarian seminars and
exhibitor presentations. These are held to support the industry for
animal welfare and wellbeing, by bringing together regional and
international experts in horse-care to discuss new developments in
treatment and therapy. The event is one of the only cross-regional
opportunities for specialists to meet and discuss new breakthroughs,
and is set to attract leading experts.
(from
the site : www.ameinfo.com)
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The much-awaited Dubai International Exhibition of the Arabic
Calligraphy Art got underway on 13th February at the Dubai Cultural
and Scientific Association headquarters in Al Mamzar for an
eight-day run under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman
of Dubai Executive Council.
The opening ceremony was attended by His Excellency Mohammad Abdul
Rahman Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community
Development, Director General of Dubai Department of Tourism and
Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem and Mr. Mohammed
Al Murr, Chairman of Dubai Cultural Council.
Also present were Mr. Murat Yavuz Ates, Consul General of Turkey,
Dr. Halit Eren, Director of Istanbul-based Research Centre for
Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), Mr. Bilal Al Budoor,
Assistant Under-Secretary for Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of
Culture, Youth and Community Development, Sulaiman Al Mazrouei,
General Manager of Corporate Communications and Community Relations
at Emirates-NBD Bank, Mr. Abdullah Al Owais, Director General of
Sharjah Department of Culture and Information, and Mr. Sultan bin
Saqr Al Suwaidi, Member of Federal National Council (FNC).
The fifth edition of the hugely-popular art event features 165
selected works of 47 contemporary calligraphers from nine countries.
The exhibition has been organized by the Dubai Department of Tourism
and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) in cooperation with the Istanbul-based
Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), an
arm of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC). It has been
sponsored by the UAE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community
Development, Dubai Cultural and Scientific Association and
Emirates-NBD Bank.
The exhibition is open to the public from 5 pm to 10 pm. It is open
to students from 10 am to 1 pm.
In addition to the UAE, the countries participating in the
exhibition are Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Palestine, Bosnia
and Bangladesh. There will be workshops and lectures on the
sidelines of the exhibition. There is a dedicated section at the
exhibition for the calligraphers from Iraq.
The event has been designed to highlight a traditional form of art
popular in the Arab and Muslim world. The works cover verses from
the Holy Quran, Arabic poetry, proverbs and sayings.
(from the site : www.ameinfo.com)
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The fifth edition of the Dubai International Exhibition of the
Arabic Calligraphy Art will be held at the Dubai Cultural and
Scientific Association headquarters in Al Mamzar from February 13 to
20 with 165 selected works of 47 contemporary calligraphers from
nine countries going on public display.
The hugely-popular annual show, being held under the patronage of
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown
Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, is
organized by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing
(DTCM) in cooperation with the Istanbul-based Research Centre for
Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), an arm of the
Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC).
It is sponsored by the UAE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community
Development, Dubai Cultural and Scientific Association and
Emirates-NBD Bank.
The exhibition is open to the public from 5 pm to 10 pm. It will be
open to students from 10 am to 1 pm.
This was announced at a Press conference on Monday by the DTCM
Executive Director Operations and Marketing, Mr. Mohammed Khamis bin
Hareb. Also present were Mr. Mohammed Al Tamimi, Manager Heritage at
IRCICA, Mr. Bilal Al Budoor, Assistant Under-Secretary for Cultural
Affairs at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development,
Mr. Ali Obaid Al Hamli, Chairman of Cultural Committee at Dubai
Cultural and Scientific Association, and Mr. Sulaiman Al Mazrouei,
General Manager of Corporate Communications and Community Relations
at Emirates-NBD.
Mr. bin Hareb said the exhibition has been a successful addition to
the cultural landscape of the emirate and the increasing number of
participation by calligraphers was an indication of its popularity.
In addition to the UAE, the countries participating in the
exhibition are Iraq , Turkey , Iran , Syria , Sudan , Palestine ,
Bosnia and Bangladesh . There will be workshops and lectures on the
sidelines of the exhibition. There will be a dedicated section at
the exhibition for the calligraphers from Iraq .
The event has been designed to highlight a traditional form of art
popular in the Arab and Muslim world. The works cover verses from
the Holy Quran, Arabic Poetry, Proverbs and Sayings.
(from the site : www.dubaitourism.ae)
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Long-standing international art and antiques fair organizers,
Brian and Anna Haughton, launched their latest event, Art and
Antiques Dubai, at the Madinat Arena, Madinat Jumeirah from 21st
-24th February 2008.
Brian and Anna Haughton have been organizing art and antiques
fairs for 26 years and today put together no fewer than six of the
world's most prestigious such events, four of them in New York City.
With their two children now part of the business, it has today
become a true family affair. The Haughtons' reputation among the
world's leading art and antiques dealers, enabled them to offer the
necessary reassurance to encourage key exhibitors to participate in
Art and Antiques Dubai.
The resulting line-up was a varied and exciting range of
international names, all eager to start laying foundations for what
many believe to be a very solid future in the Gulf for the art and
antiques market, a part of the world as yet to prove itself as a
major centre for the arts.
The fair took place under the patronage of His Excellency Abdul
Rahman Mohammed Al Owais, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth & Community
Development, and with the support of the DTCM (Dubai Tourism Culture
& Marketing) Art and Antiques Dubai.
The very positive response from the Arab world to the fair from the
outset at the special previews held on the opening Thursday and
again on the Friday evenings, made immediate headlines in the Gulf
press.
Government ministers, along with VIPs from across the Gulf States,
as well as from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and beyond, mingled
with expats.
'The extremely positive response from the Arab world to the fair
clearly indicates the emergence of a new market for top quality
art,' said Brian Haughton, organizer of 'Art & Antiques Dubai'.
Overall the majority of sales made were in a range up to $100,000
but there were a select group at a higher level in the 'substantial'
six figure bracket.
Sales at the fair itself continued after the close, with items out
on approval to clients and sales still to be finalized, an ongoing
process that can continue for weeks after an event is over.
More specifically, steady sales throughout the fair were seen at
Mathaf Gallery (London) and of a mix of lesser (four figure) and
more important pictures (prices on the stand rose into six figures)
- 'I am absolutely delighted' said Brian Macdermot, who is one of
the world's leading dealers in Orientalist pictures and has been
doing business in the Middle East for almost 30 years.
Elsewhere, at Koopman Rare Art (London) a wooden table topped with a
silver 'racing game' complete with racehorses in silver and enamel
and made in Paris circa 1920, sold for a 'significant' but
undisclosed sum; a group of early maps of Arabia sold in a range up
to $50,000 each at Bernard J. Shapero Rare Books (London) and Samina
Inc., London-based dealer in 17th-20th century Indian jewellery, had
also made a number of sales by the fair's close. In addition, and in
complete contrast, Syrian contemporary art - a mix of abstract and
more figurative works - was selling steadily at Ayyam Gallery of
Damascus.
'This is an old market that needs to be rekindled' said Lewis Smith
of Koopman, remembering the Middle Eastern collectors of the 1980s.
'The collectors are still there, we just don't hear quite as much
about them today'.
With the Haughton name behind it, the fair was built around a
impressive nucleus of major names, that also included Ronald
Phillips Ltd from London (specialists in the finest 18th and early
19th century English furniture and works of art), and leading New
York dealers such as Berry-Hill Galleries (with 18th-20th century
American and European art); Maison Gerard with fine French Art Deco
(and numerous sales including chandeliers, mirrors, and screens),
Cristina Grajales, with 20th century design masterpieces and Bernard
Goldberg Fine Arts, promoting the cause of American art 1900-1950.
All reported good contacts made
Lesley Kehoe Galleries from Australia, with a spectacular range of
antique and contemporary Japanese works of art, reported sales that
included two major items in five and six figures (US dollars) to a
'Dubai resident'.
One was a Japanese screen by Maio Motoko (recent subject of Kennedy
Centre exhibition in Washington DC) and the other a calligraphy box
in Japanese lacquer by 'Unryuan' (real name Kitamura Tatsuo), who is
represented in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, and Los Angeles
County Museum of Art. Alastair Crawford, New York based dealer in
Georg Jensen silver and jewellery, also reported six 'substantial
five figure (US dollar) sales to different 'resident' clients.
Strong support came from the Middle East, with exhibitors such as
Ayyam Gallery from Syria (offering works by a selection of leading
contemporary Syrian artists), Rami Abboud International from
Lebanon, USA, and Paris with bespoke contemporary jewellery, Amir
Mohtashemi from London with Islamic, Indian and colonial antiques
and works of art.
Said Amir Mohtashemi: 'Exhibiting at 'Art & Antiques Dubai' was
beneficial to expanding our client base in the region through the
vast number of good contacts we were able to make at the fair.'
The seal of approval from Dubai itself came through exhibitors
familiar with the market there, such as Majlis Gallery (with works
of art, in particular textiles, kilims and early maps), and also
Port-of-Call Gallery (fine Chinese and Japanese antique furniture
and works of art) both of whom reported solid sales.
The very real interest shown by visitors proved refreshing for those
exhibitors familiar with the longer established and more saturated
art markets of, say, London and New York. 'There is a very
sophisticated and very international clientele here in Dubai' said
Simon Phillips of Ronald Phillips. 'People here are hugely
interested and curious, which is very gratifying, and very
exciting'.
(from the site : www.ameinfo.com)
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