Qatar Mulls Christie’s Bid as Emir Plans Cultural Hub

A possible Qatari bid for Christie’s International Plc would help its emir make the country into a Middle Eastern hub of the global art market, dealers said.

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani has already purchased artworks at Christie’s and other auction houses, the dealers said. Oil-rich Qatar has also bought the Harrods Ltd. store and real estate in central London. The emir said he may be interested in acquiring the London-based auction house, the Financial Times reported, after months of speculation about a possible Qatari bid.