Art patronage in the Emirates

Yesterday I mentioned a censorship controversy at the Dubai Literature Festival and wondered about the problems that art patronage in the Emirates might run into. It turns out that the last issue of ArteEast's online magazine has the answers to most of my questions. It's entirely dedicated to the arts in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Christopher K. Brown's opening article is a good place to start to get a sense of the (incredibly expensive and expansive) art patronage going on in Abu Dhabi. Brown asks:

With so much emphasis placed on appearances and the obvious desire to look impressive, will these cultural initiatives really serve the needs of the public?  

There are also several profiles and interviews with artists from the Emirates.