Basel Dalloul

Basel Dalloul is a collector and patron of the arts with a focus on modern and contemporary Arab art. In 2017, he established the Ramzi and Saeda Dalloul Art Foundation (DAF) in Beirut to manage and share the extensive collection of Arab art amassed by his parents over the course of 50 years. The collection, which includes works in various media, reflects the diversity and boldness of Arab creativity and provides a comprehensive survey of visual arts from much of the Arab region. Through exhibitions, education, and research, DAF aims to make the collection accessible to local and international audiences. In addition to providing access to researchers and doctoral students and organizing visits to its storage galleries for schools and universities, DAF also loans works from its collection to local and international museums. Dalloul has also been actively adding to the collection, acquiring nearly 40 works in 2022 alone. These acquisitions include works by artists such as Jewad Salim, for whom Dalloul purchased a masterpiece at auction for “a cool million dollars.” In addition to his collecting and philanthropic activities, Dalloul is also the CEO of the Cairo-based IT company Noor Group and the founder of the early internet start-up Magnet Interactive Group.

Image Source: Daf Beirut