Sotheby’s to Hold First Luxury Marquee Auctions in Abu Dhabi This December
- SAUDI ARABIA BREAKING NEWS
- Aug 31
- 2 min read
Abu Dhabi, August 31, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Sotheby’s will stage its first series of luxury marquee auctions in Abu Dhabi this December, marking a major expansion of the auction house’s global footprint.
Branded as Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week, the sales will take place from December 3 to 5 at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO). The program will include auctions of cars, watches, jewelry, and real estate, alongside a “museum-quality” exhibition spanning Old Masters to contemporary art.
Sotheby’s said the timing coincides with one of Abu Dhabi’s busiest cultural and business weeks, which includes the Formula One Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi Finance Week, the Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit, and Bitcoin MENA. Saadiyat Island is already home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi and will soon host the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum.
“This is a major strategic moment for Sotheby’s and the expansion of our global footprint,” Josh Pullman, Global Head of Sotheby’s Luxury Division, said. He noted growing Middle Eastern participation in global auctions, particularly from UAE-based clients, adding that Abu Dhabi’s role as a cultural and luxury hub makes it a natural location.
The event follows Sotheby’s debut sale in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, the Kingdom’s first international auction. Industry reports show the Middle East’s luxury market grew 6 percent in 2024 to nearly $13 billion, with Sotheby’s reporting a record number of regional buyers last year.
Highlights of the Abu Dhabi auctions will include The Desert Rose, a 31.86-carat fancy vivid orangey pink diamond estimated at $5 million to $7 million, a rare Rolex “Oyster Albino” Daytona watch valued between $500,000 and $1 million, and a 2017 Pagani Zonda 760 Riviera expected to fetch $9.5 million to $10.5 million.
Luxury sales accounted for about a third of Sotheby’s $6 billion total in 2024, with consolidated sales reaching $2 billion for the third consecutive year, the house said. Private luxury sales grew 350 percent year-on-year.
Sotheby’s has longstanding ties to Abu Dhabi, reinforced by a $1 billion investment from sovereign wealth fund ADQ last year. The funding is part of CEO Charles Stewart’s strategy to position the house as a global luxury brand beyond fine art.
“With the exclusive global debut of Collectors’ Week in the capital, we unveil more than rare and exceptional pieces — we reaffirm the city’s cultural depth, shaped by the quiet power of true luxury,” said Noora Al Foulathi, Head of Abu Dhabi Retail.
