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Nour Kelani, Managing Director of Christie’s Saudi Arabia
Christie’s Saudi Arabia will be the next strategic move of the famous auction house. Christie’s has officially announced that it has received a commercial license to operate in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This expansion comes with the appointment of Nour Kelani as the Managing Director, establishing their headquarters in Riyadh. Kelani will lead the company’s efforts in offering art and luxury goods services to clients, while focusing on building relationships with a new generation of collectors.
The opening of Christie’s Saudi Arabia is a proactive step and gain first mover advantage over its major competitors such as Sotheby’s and Philips, adding to the already competitive auction scene in the Middle East. This move follows the establishment of Christie’s Dubai office in 2005.
Kelani was previously the gallery manager of Ayyam in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where she played a key role in bringing the “Young Collector’s Auction” to the kingdom. In addition to this, Kelani has worked as an art and luxury consultant for global brands. Her contributions to the arts were recognized by France, awarding her the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
Christie’s is also actively involved in supporting contemporary art in the region, as evidenced by their participation in the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2024], reinforcing their commitment to the region’s thriving art scene.
Amid a sluggish auction market in the United States—the largest in the world—auction houses and galleries are increasingly turning to new markets, including Asia, where the art collection market is expanding rapidly
Story by Tae Art Man
