Christie’s, the world’s leading art business, is expanding its business in the Middle East with the appointment of Hayat Shobokshi as consultant representative based in Saudi Arabia.

Hayat’s appointment comes at a time of increased interest and excitement in the Saudi contemporary art scene and the announcement of a significant museum project in the Eastern Province.

Michael Jeha, managing director, and Christie’s Middle East, said: 'Since we opened an office in the region in 2005, we have been working to further our client base in Saudi Arabia. We offered works by Saudi Arabian contemporary artists in our 2008 sales which were extremely well received by clients.'

'Having a person of Hayat’s skills and local knowledge on the ground well enable us to develop our presence and seek out new opportunities. She joins the Middle East team at pivotal moment following a great year of sales and activities in the region,' he remarked.

Shobokshi joins Christie’s from her family business, where she was a board director and strategic manager of the Retail Division.

In her new role she will assume responsibility for the implementation of Christie’s strategy for Saudi Arabia as well as increasing participation of Saudi clients in Christie’s international auctions and diversified businesses such as Christie’s Great Estates and Christie’s Education.

'I was incredibly fortunate to witness the sale of masterpieces of Egyptian art collected by Dr Mohammed Said Farsi, for $6.7 million at Christie’s Dubai this October.'

'Dr Farsi was Lord Mayor of Jeddah in the 1970s and 1980s and was instrumental in making the city one of the largest open-air galleries in the world and in highlighting international art in the Middle East. I hope to inspire a new generation of Saudi Arabian collectors to follow his example,' said Shobokshi.

Shobokshi will be supported locally by Jeha and his experienced Dubai-based team, where Christie’s has held bi-annual sales since 2006, said a statemment from Christie’s.

Christie’s global team of specialists, including William Robinson, responsible for Islamic Art sales since 1982, Hala Khayat, specialist for Contemporary Middle Eastern art and Lyne Kaddoura, Christie’s jewellery specialist for the Middle Eastern region, both of whom are based in Dubai, will also assist Shobokshi in her new role.

Over the past six years Christie’s has developed its Middle Eastern business strategy by holding exhibitions, lectures, charity auctions, opening a representative office and holding bi-annual sales in the region. In 2010 Christie’s achieved a sale total of over $50 million in the Middle East.-TradeArabia News Service