Art Basel is finally touching down in the Middle East. Traditionally revolving around four seasonal locations—Hong Kong, Basel, Paris, and Miami Beach—the fair has expanded to Qatar’s capital city of Doha. With the objective of cultivating deeper engagement with gallerists and artists in the region, Art Basel is departing from its usual “booth” model. Led by the Doha-born curator Wael Shawky, it will embrace an open exhibition format based on the concept of “becoming.” This theme uses the surrounding Persian Gulf as a symbol for the way art has transformed ancient trade routes into more contemporary networks of culture. Art Basel Qatar showcases 87 galleries—16 of them for the first time—and offers complimentary access to the country’s museums and archaeological sites. —Maggie Turner