The AlUla Contemporary Art Museum presents a strategic knowledge collaboration with Sotheby’s to deliver two specialised dialogue sessions aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, expanding sector knowledge, and developing regional expertise. Together, these dialogues support the museum’s long-term vision to build a knowledge-based professional ecosystem, strengthen institutional fluency, and position AlUla as a regional platform for intellectual leadership and cultural exchange within the global contemporary art landscape.
Introduction to the Art Ecosystem | Friday 27 February, 9:00 PM–10:00 PM
An overview of the pillars of the art world, discussing the interconnected roles of auction houses, biennials, museums and galleries. A key focus on auctioning, a day in the life of a specialist, and the life cycle of an object.
Yasmeen Gailani is the Middle East representative and Specialist at Sotheby's. With an academic background in Middle Eastern Studies and International Development, Yasmeen has in-depth knowledge of the regional art market, bringing 9+ years of experience cultivating cross-category art at Sotheby’s and nurturing a new generation of collectors across the region.
Speakers: Yasmeen Gailani
Translating The Art World Into The Arabic Language | Friday 27 February, 10:30 PM–11:30 PM
An overview of the importance of Arabic translation within the art ecosystem and its impact on knowledge-sharing, accessibility, exposure to new art forms, and the development of art criticism.
Ban Kattan is a certified translator and one of the very few specialists globally focused on art and culture translations. With over 15 years of experience, Ban has translated for leading institutions including Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Barjeel Art Foundation, Jameel Arts Centre, and Sharjah Art Foundation, among others.
Speakers: Ban Kattan
Marking our fourth year of partnership with the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, Sotheby’s is proud to continue fostering international dialogue within the Kingdom. The third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, themed “In Interlude and Transitions,” considers moments of change and transformation. In this spirit, Sotheby’s will bring together global collectors, curators, and cultural leaders to engage in conversations that deepen exchange.
Mapping New Centres: African Art, the Middle East, and Global Modernities | 31 March 2026, 7:00 PM
As the geographies of culture shift, Africa and the Middle East are emerging as vital crossroads in the global art landscape. Mapping New Centres brings together leading voices in art, scholarship, and literature - including Hannah O’Leary (Sotheby’s), A Rahman Saleh (founder, ARAK Collection) and Awa Konaté (independent curator) - to explore how new cultural hubs are redefining narratives of modernity and artistic value. The discussion considers how African and Middle Eastern cities are reshaping global art networks, how institutions across the Global South are fostering transnational dialogue, and how artists negotiate language, identity, and representation in a rapidly evolving world. Together, the panellists will reflect on the possibilities of a multipolar art world — one in which Africa and the Middle East are not peripheral, but central, to the making of global modernities.
Speakers: Hannah O’Leary (Sotheby’s), Awa Konaté (independent curator) & A Rahman Saleh (founder ARAK Collection)
Collecting Across Borders: A Conversation with Ahmad Abu Ghazaleh | 3 April 2026, 7:00 PM
This collectors’ conversation features prominent international and Middle Eastern art patron and collector Ahmad Abu Ghazaleh in dialogue with Lisa Stevenson, Contemporary Art Specialist at Sotheby’s. Together, they will explore the journey of building a collection — from the early inspirations that shaped his interests, to his approach in expanding from Middle Eastern art into global contemporary spheres.
Speakers: Ahmad Abu Ghazaleh (Art Patron and Collector) & Lisa Stevenson (Sotheby’s)