Hala Khayat is playing a key role in the development of the Arab art market via her role as head of sales at Christie’s Dubai office. Since 2006, when the office opened, the London-based auction house has sold well over a quarter of a billion dollars worth of art. In last month’s auction of Modern and Contemporary Arab, Iranian and Turkish Art, Christie’s amassed $11.4m in sales, 7 percent up on the previous year. Khayat has a bachelor’s degree in design and visual communications from Damascus University and a master’s degree in design studies from University of the Arts London.