Want a serious gallery to back your work in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah or Muscat? This guide shows you how to research the scene, shortlist the right galleries, pitch professionally, and negotiate a fair contract. It is written for emerging and mid-career artists from the Middle East and for international artists targeting the region.

Quick wins first

• Target hubs with dense ecosystems: Alserkal Avenue, Dubai; Saadiyat Island and Abu Dhabi cultural district; JAX District, Diriyah, Riyadh; Hayy Jameel, Jeddah; Doha’s museum and design cluster around M7 and Fire Station; Muscat’s contemporary spaces.

• Use anchor events to meet dealers: Art Dubai and Abu Dhabi Art; Saudi’s year-round programming via Riyadh Art/Noor Riyadh; Sharjah’s foundation calendar; Doha’s design and residency scene.

• Build relationships with ecosystems that feed galleries: Art Jameel and Ishara Art Foundation in Dubai, Tashkeel for professional development, Misk Art Institute and JAX District in Saudi, Fire Station Artist in Residence and M7 in Doha, Stal Gallery in Muscat.

1) Understand the market map

UAE
Dubai concentrates commercial galleries and private institutions. Start with Alserkal Avenue and established galleries like The Third Line and Lawrie Shabibi to learn programs and submission culture. Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat district hosts major institutions and the Abu Dhabi Art fair.

Saudi Arabia
Riyadh’s JAX District is a growing gallery and studio cluster tied to Vision 2030, while Riyadh Art commissions public art and runs festivals that attract curators. Jeddah’s scene includes Hayy Jameel and long-standing galleries such as ATHR.

Qatar
Institutional gravity is strong. Fire Station runs residencies and open calls, and M7 drives design and creative entrepreneurship. Galleries scout talent from these pipelines.

Oman
Contemporary platforms are smaller but focused. Stal Gallery in Muscat supports Omani artists and collaborates internationally

2) Build a targeted gallery list

Create three tiers by program fit and readiness:

• Tier A: exact fit with your medium and themes, active at fairs and strong institutional ties
  Examples for reference: The Third Line, Lawrie Shabibi, ATHR. Also check the gallery list of World Art Dubai, Art Dubai and Abu Dhabi Art for local galleries.

• Tier B: credible spaces in the right district that show adjacent practices

• Tier C: project spaces, foundation platforms, or residency-linked venues that often lead to A or B

Check recent shows, viewing rooms, and fair booths to confirm alignment.

3) What galleries look for in the region

• Cohesive body of work with a clear visual through-line across 12 to 20 works

• Artist statement that situates the work in a wider discourse

• Professional portfolio with captions, sizes, year, materials and consistent prices

• Track record: group shows, residencies, institutional programs, or credible press in the region

• Collectability signals: installation shots, condition reports, provenance docs when relevant
  These are the common selection lenses dealers describe publicly.

4) Your approach strategy that gets replies

Warm up the relationship

• Attend openings, talks and fair booths. Ask focused questions and follow the program for a season before you pitch.

• Engage with feeder institutions: apply to Tashkeel programs, Art Jameel opportunities, Misk initiatives, Fire Station open calls.

Write the right first email
Keep it short and opt-in. Example flow based on best practices: a polite inquiry about submissions, one sentence on your practice, a link to a tidy PDF or site, and a request for preferred materials if they are open to review.

What to send

• One curated PDF, 5 to 7 pages: 10 to 15 images, brief statement, CV highlights, contact, links

• A simple price list in AED or SAR with USD equivalence if needed

• Installation images and one page with press or awards

Timing
Avoid deep fair weeks or install weeks. Watch gallery calendars at Alserkal, JAX, Hayy and institutional programs to pick quieter windows.

5) Contracts you will encounter and what good looks like

Most sales happen on consignment. Common, global practice is a 50/50 commission split on the retail price, although other splits exist. Whatever the split, it must be explicit in writing.

Core agreement types

• Consignment agreement per exhibition or period

• Representation agreement with territory scope, sometimes exclusive in the UAE, KSA, GCC or MENA

• Project-based contract for one show or a fair presentation

Clauses to expect

• Commission split and who funds discounts

• Territory and exclusivity scope and duration

• Inventory list with images and values, condition report, insurance responsibilities

• Payment terms with schedule after sale, returns and refunds policy

• Shipping, customs and installation: who pays and who is responsible

• Marketing commitments: catalogue, press, fair participation

• Termination and return of unsold works

These elements are standard in professional contracts and legal primers on artist-dealer agreements. Use them as a checklist and seek local legal advice before signing.

Negotiation tips

• Ask for a written inventory and consignment report signed by both parties.

• Cap gallery discounts and state who bears them.

• Define a reasonable exclusivity radius. Avoid blanket “global” exclusives if the gallery is only active in one city.

• For fair participation, clarify who covers booth fees, shipping, insurance and production. Red flags include being asked to pay booth fees directly.

Note on taxes
If sales occur in Saudi Arabia, 15 percent VAT applies to taxable supplies, with special “place of supply” rules for cultural services. In the UAE the standard VAT rate is 5 percent, with specific rules for exhibitions and conferences. Your gallery and accountant should confirm who invoices the buyer and how VAT is handled. Read our recent Article about UAE Taxes here: https://www.theartfairguy.com/uae-vat-for-artists-2025-what-to-charge-when-to-register/

6) Red flags to avoid

• Pay-to-play or “vanity gallery” models that ask artists to pay rent or “promotion fees” rather than earning from sales. Avoid and spend the money on your Business – Build a Website, do your own exhibition, visit an Art Fair.

• No written contract, no inventory sheet, no insurance details

• Vague payment timelines or pressure for steep upfront fees for “fairs” or “catalogues”

• Galleries that cannot point to recent credible shows, collectors or institutional partners
  These warning signs are widely documented by artist-advocacy resources.

7) Due diligence before you say yes

• Verify the gallery’s address and business presence in recognized districts like Alserkal, JAX or Hayy. Check their fair participation, press and roster.

• Review their recent shows, viewing rooms and artist pages.

• Speak with one or two artists from the roster about invoicing, discounts, and after-sales care.

• For Qatar, learn how residencies and museum programs feed the local market. For Oman, assess the gallery’s local network and institutional ties.

8) Your region-ready pitch kit

Required

• 12 to 20 works consistent in language and quality

• PDF portfolio and price list in AED, SAR or QAR, plus USD

• Statement, bio, CV and 1-page press sheet

• Installation photos and a short studio video walkthrough

Nice to have

• Recent residency participation or open-call awards in the Region.

9) Smart follow-up

• If you don’t hear back in 3 to 4 weeks, one short follow-up with one new image or exhibition news is enough.

• Keep building in public: group shows, residencies, foundation programs and fair visits. The second contact lands better when your CV has moved.

10) Shortlist starter pack: credible places to study

• Alserkal Avenue directory to map program fit in Dubai.

• Art Dubai or World Art Dubai gallery list to see who sells what to whom. Read more about World Art Dubai here: https://www.theartfairguy.com/how-to-apply-to-world-art-dubai-2026-the-complete-artist-guide/

• Riyadh Art and JAX District to understand the Saudi ecosystem and where galleries cluster.

• Hayy Jameel in Jeddah, ATHR Gallery in Jeddah and Riyadh for a sense of standards.

• Fire Station AiR and M7 in Doha for network building.

• Stal Gallery in Muscat for Oman entry points.

Copy-paste email template for initial outreach to Galleries

Subject: Submission inquiry — portfolio review request

Hello [Gallery Name] team,
I’m a [city] based artist working in [medium]. I’ve been following your program, especially [one show or fair booth], and feel my current body of work aligns with your focus.
If you are open to submissions, could you please advise your preferred materials and format?
Portfolio PDF and details: [link]
Thank you for your time,
[Name] · [mobile] · [website/IG]

(Format adapted from widely shared gallery-approach best practices.)

Mini-checklist: contract essentials for Art Galleries

• Written consignment or representation agreement

• Inventory list with values and condition

• Commission split and discount policy

• VAT invoicing and place of supply clarified

• Insurance, shipping, installation responsibilities

• Payment timeline after sale

• Territory, exclusivity and term

• Marketing commitments and fair costs

• Termination and return of works

(Use professional templates and legal guides as references before local counsel review.)

Take the next step with The Art Fair Guy

Need help compiling a gallery hit list in Dubai, Riyadh, Doha or Muscat, and tailoring your portfolio and contract terms? Book a 1:1 strategy session and we’ll create a gallery shortlist, a region-ready pitch kit and a negotiation checklist for your next meeting. Contact us at office@theartfairguy.com