Art Basel Doha: Building the Team Behind the First Fair

Founded in 1970, Art Basel has grown from a single fair in Switzerland into an international platform staging major fairs in Basel, Hong Kong, Miami Beach and Paris. Today, it brings together galleries, artists and collectors from around the world. It hosts talks and publishes market analyses. As a result, it operates as both a marketplace and a forum for contemporary art. In February 2026, Art Basel staged its first fair in Doha. This launch placed Doha firmly on the international art calendar and introduced one of the most recognised global art brands to Qatar for the first time. To deliver the fair, the organisers required a Doha-based operations and project management team capable of building the event from the ground up. Hanson Search was appointed to recruit that team. This meant hiring the right people quickly, in the right roles and within a fixed timeframe.

Delivering the First Art Basel Doha Fair

Art Basel Doha presented contemporary work from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. Themes included identity, memory and place. Participating galleries included Lawrie Shabibi, Athr Gallery, Galerie Tanit and The Third Line. Exhibiting artists included Wael Shawky, Monira Al Qadiri, Shilpa Gupta, Lalla Essaydi and Mohammed Kazem.

The talks programme was a highlight of the week, addressing regional institutions and artist-led initiatives. It also examined the responsibilities of international art fairs operating in local markets. Speakers included Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Maja Hoffmann and Sumayya Vally. Meanwhile, site visits and events across Doha’s cultural institutions linked the fair to the city’s established arts infrastructure.

Building the Art Basel Doha Operations and Project Management Team

Hanson Search’s collaboration began in May 2025 with a clear brief. To recruit a locally based team across operations and project management. We recruited 15 professionals whose regional expertise, cultural understanding and on-the-ground knowledge were integral to the fair’s success. Each hire brought practical delivery expertise and familiarity with the local environment.

The search included targeted market mapping across Qatar and the wider Gulf. We conducted direct outreach to identified candidates. We also carried out structured competency interviews aligned to defined role criteria. Hanson Search managed the full recruitment cycle from role scoping to offer and onboarding. All 15 hires were completed on time.

Reflecting on the first fair in Doha, Amy Hayer, Managing Partner at Hanson Search, said: “Art Basel Doha was a landmark moment for the region. We’re proud to have supported the building of a local team that played a vital role in bringing this vision to life and in celebrating culture, talent and global connection.”

Recruiting Local Talent for Major Cultural Events in Doha

Launching a global fair in a new market depended on operational control and local knowledge. By recruiting professionals already based in Doha, Art Basel ensured delivery reflected the regulatory, cultural and logistical context of the host city. For Hanson Search, the most rewarding outcome was seeing the team deliver the inaugural event successfully. Their leadership and commitment were central to execution. Moreover, the project reinforced a clear point: international organisations entering Doha require structured recruitment and locally embedded teams to deliver successfully.

Hanson Search provides recruitment, executive search and talent advisory services across Doha and the wider Gulf, supporting global brands, cultural institutions and commercial organisations with operations, project management and senior leadership hiring. We work with clients establishing a presence in Qatar, building new teams from the ground up or strengthening existing structures ahead of major launches. Our work on Art Basel Doha demonstrates our ability to recruit within defined delivery schedules while maintaining rigorous assessment standards and local market insight.

If you are launching, expanding or restructuring in Doha or across the Gulf, please contact us for a confidential discussion.