Qatari patron and dealer Tariq Al Jaidah is a pivotal figure in building a grassroots commercial art market in Qatar. He opened the country's first commercial gallery, Waqif Art Centre, in 2007, later established the non-profit Katara Art Centre, and most recently founded the commercial gallery Wusum in 2023 to showcase emerging Qatari artists and cultivate young local collectors. He advocates for more private museums, foundations, and corporate collecting to create a self-sustaining ecosystem beyond the state-run institutions.
Al Jaidah's approach to his personal collection of around 500 works, amassed over four decades, is driven purely by personal passion rather than investment advice. In an interview, he discusses collecting works by artists like Dia al-Azzawi and Mays Al Moosawi, his regrets over missing pieces by Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, and his hope that the potential first Art Basel Qatar will professionalize the local market. His efforts highlight the critical need to develop a middle market and collector base to sustain Qatar's art scene long-term.