The female head of the Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) has been named the most powerful figure in the art world.
Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani came top of ArtReview magazine’s annual Power 100 due to “her organisation’s vast purchasing power”.
Sheikha Al-Mayassa first appeared on the Power 100 in 2011 at number 90, rising to number 11 in 2012.
China’s Ai Weiwei, who topped the countdown in 2011, is the highest-placed artist at number nine.
Other familiar names in the top 10 include art dealer Larry Gagosian, ranked at four, and Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota, placed at six.
The latter was made a Companion of Honour by Prince Charles on Wednesday at Buckingham Palace in recognition of his services to art.
Sheikha Al-Mayassa is the sister of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, who assumed the role of Qatar’s emir when his father abdicated in June.
According to ArtReview, the QMA spends around $1bn a year (£618m) developing galleries, sponsoring film festivals and supporting public art, BBC informs.
