The Al-Thani family is finalizing a deal to have an exhibition space for its art in Paris. Le Monde reports that the Al-Thani family are in negotiations with a private developer representing the French state which has plans to re-develop L’hôtel de la Marine on the Place de la Concorde into a retail-office-and-cultural space. The French government and the Qatari government have been looking for ways to solidify ties in the current global climate. Le Monde says the Al-Thani family plan to use the space, which will open in 2020, to have a rotating exhibition of their art holdings:

According to our information, the National Monuments Center (CMN), which is running the private property on behalf of the State, is in the process of signing an agreement with Qatar so that the emirate can present it on a rotating basis. for twenty years, paying 20 million euros, the Al-Thani art collection, named after the ruling family.

The project was presented on Tuesday, September 4th, before the board of CMN, which manages a hundred buildings some quite prestigious in Paris, the Arc de Triomphe or the Pantheon. Joined by telephone, its president, Philippe Bélaval, did not want to comment on this information: “I do not deny or confirm. “

Undoubtedly the millions paid by the Al Thani family to the National Monuments Center (MNC) to exhibit are at the heart of the latest discussions. The amount will not be negligible to run a site – the Center expects 600,000 entries a year – when the state lacks money to maintain its heritage.