About Dar Al-Anda
Our Story
Nestled at the cusp of ancient and contemporary history is a sanctuary of the senses that is Dar Al-Anda. Founded in 1998, Dar Al-Anda rapidly made a name for itself as a haven of fine arts emanating from the region.
The name “Dar Al-Anda” is authentically Arabic, but not a very common one in most modern Arabic dialects. Like something straight out of a pre-Islamic epic poem, the stunning complexity of the Arabic language shines in instances like these. The melding of two words into a unique hybrid. “Anda”, is an interpolation of “Nada”, the Arabic word for “morning dew”, signifying prosperity and nourishment. If we were to boil down the essence of “Dar Al-Anda”, the most suitable translation would be “home of the giving“, which sets the tone for what we do and what we stand for.
We exist to enrich the lives of our patrons, team members and community by giving them the opportunity to experience art in all of its forms.
Over the course of twenty five years, Dar Al-Anda has had the pleasure of hosting over two hundred exhibitions. We have also immersed our patrons in auditory, visual and sensory forms of the arts. A great number of musical concerts, literary events and cultural activities have been held by and taken place at Dar Al-Anda, fostering a devoted and growing group of advocates for the impact that Dar Al-Anda hopes to achieve within the art community.
Our Mission
Dar Al-Anda’s role in the Jordanian art scene is a unique one, as it is not only a market-oriented gallery. Dar Al-Anda also operates as quasi-institutional art space.
At Dar Al-Anda, we operate with one core premise:
art should be accessible by everyone.
Our doors are open to all of those who appreciate fine art. Our collection is versatile in its prices so that quality art pieces may be afforded by anyone. Our involvement in our local community is evident through our engaging artists, craftspeople and influencers from our hometown. All this culminates in our aim to spread art and the beauty that it brings into people's lives across the country and the global art community.
Our Heritage
The Villas: A Legacy Meticulously Restored
Dar Al-Anda is housed in two historic villas, originally built in Amman’s fabled Jabal Al-Weibdeh in the 1930’s. Whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in art or simply looking to travel back in time through breathtaking views of Old Amman’s seven rolling hills, and Roman and Ottoman ruins such as The Citadel and the Arc of Hercules, Dar Al-Anda is a quintessential cultural stop for first-time and returning visitors to Amman, as well as its residents.
The main gallery space is housed in a beguiling heritage villa that conceals memories of a rich past and contemporary treasures within its walls. The other villa serves as the rooftop to our picturesque terrace. According to the register of the Municipality of Greater Amman, the villas were constructed in 1939, although urban legends do say that they were built a few years earlier but were not registered with the city until 1939.
An ambitious, multi-year restoration saw the abandoned and poorly-maintained villas return to their former glory, brick by brick, and with the utmost care and expertise. When Dar Al-Anda relocated to its new forever home, these villas morphed into multi-faceted and cross-functional spaces. Many come here just to experience the builds, the views and the multiple terraces, gardens and outdoor sculptures and installations scattered throughout the environs. Dar Al-Anda nowadays includes several terraces, indoor and outdoor seating areas, and a trove of sculptures and installations scattered along its picturesque gardens and against a dramatic backdrop of the Seven Hills of Old Amman, the Citadel, and the Arc of Hercules.
Our Private Collection
In addition to featuring artworks by represented and featured artists, Dar Al-Anda boasts one of the largest private collections of modern and contemporary Middle Eastern art in Jordan. Our collection includes works by modern art legends such as Ismail Fattah, Dia Azzawi and Muhannad Durrah. It also encompasses art by contemporary artists from Jordan, the rest of the Middle East and beyond. These include the likes of Amar Dawod, Bahram Hajou, Youssef Abdelke and Hana'a-Mallalah.
If you’d like to find out about a work in our private collection, you can fill out this form.
Yousef Abdelke
Dia Azzawi
Hashim Hannoun
Ismail Fattah
Bahram Hajou
Our Team
Majdoline Al-Ghezawi
FOUNDER
Majdoline’s inclination towards art started at a young age. She found herself to be fascinated by the stained glass windows in her school and began designing and selling handicrafts, and eventually Artwork in her late teens. She has since amassed an extensive collection of paintings and sculptures as well as a global network of artists and collectors. Having founded Dar Al-Anda in 1998, Majdoline plays an active role in the overseeing of daily operations and long-term direction.
Abdulah Al-Ghoul
Director, Marketing & eCommerce
Following a decade of management experience across Operations, Finance and Project Management with luxury hotel brands such as Fairmont, Raffles and Rosewood, Abdulah obtained an MBA from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, BC, Canada. During his active tenure at Dar Al-Anda between 2014 and 2018, he formalized and executed the gallery’s marketing strategy and efforts, including content development, curation and distribution, partnership development and online distribution channels.
