Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Sotheby’s inaugural series of luxury auctions in Abu Dhabi realised a combined total of $133.4 million, marking a historic moment for the auction house and the region.
Staged on Saadiyat Beach as the culminating event of Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week, the evening brought the first major auctions of their kind ever presented in the Middle East and drew collectors from 35 countries, with nearly a quarter of participants from the UAE.
The top lot of the night was the 1994 McLaren F1, which more than lived up to its billing as one of the world’s most coveted hypercars, selling for $25.3 million—a new auction record for a McLaren F1 road car. It was followed by the 2026 McLaren MCL40A, which achieved $11.5 million.
Offered ahead of the upcoming Formula One season, the winning buyer secured his choice of an Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris chassis—along with the thrill of watching it compete for honours next year.
Among the most significant horological highlights, the complete four-piece set of the Patek Philippe Star Caliber 2000 sold for $11.9 million, becoming the second most valuable watch ever sold at Sotheby’s. The sale marked the first time a complete Star Caliber 2000 set had ever been offered publicly—an important milestone in haute horology.
One of the evening’s most dramatic moments came when The Desert Rose, the largest Fancy Vivid Orangy Pink diamond in the world, ignited a nearly 20-minute bidding battle among five bidders before achieving $8.8 million, setting a new auction record for an orangy pink diamond.
The auctions also featured the highly anticipated sale of Jane Birkin’s Le Voyageur, a one-of-a-kind Hermès Birkin used by the late actress between 2003 and 2007. The bag soared to $2.9 million—six times its pre-sale estimate—after 11 minutes of intense bidding among six collectors, becoming the second most valuable handbag ever sold at auction.
Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions opened the evening with a waterfront estate in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat achieving $20.1 million, signalling strong momentum in the early part of the event.
High-performance bicycles also drew competitive attention, with four Colnago models attracting lively bidding. The standout was Tadej Pogačar’s Colnago Y1Rs Raw Carbon, ridden on the Mont Ventoux stage of the 2025 Tour de France, which sold for $190,500, more than nine times its high estimate and establishing a new auction record for a bicycle.
RM Sotheby’s inaugural automotive sale in Abu Dhabi contributed $84.7 million to the evening’s total, setting a new benchmark as the most successful collector-car auction ever held in the Middle East.
The broader Collectors’ Week programme brought together over 5,000 visitors, with exhibitions showcasing $1 billion worth of items—the most valuable exhibition ever staged by an auction house in the region.
Charles F. Stewart, Sotheby’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Tonight’s auctions mark a historic chapter in our activities in Abu Dhabi. Together with our partners at ADIO, we hold immense optimism and ambition for Abu Dhabi as a global center for art and luxury.” He added that the week’s exhibitions and events “lay a strong foundation for our future here”.
Noora Al Foulathi, Head of Abu Dhabi Retail, said: “This past week has affirmed what makes Abu Dhabi so special. Our city is a place where people naturally gather to appreciate rarity, authenticity, and the truly remarkable.”
She added that Abu Dhabi continues to set “the benchmark for the world of collectibles, and it is a journey shaped by collective passion rather than ambition alone”.
Josh Pullan, Global Head of Sotheby’s Luxury Division, described the evening as surpassing expectations.
“From extraordinary auction results—including multiple records and white-glove sales—to the electric energy in the room, the response has been phenomenal.” He highlighted Abu Dhabi’s young and discerning collector base and said Sotheby’s looks forward to building on the success of the inaugural Collectors’ Week.
Katia Nounou Boueiz, Head of Sotheby’s UAE, said the week had been “so rewarding,” noting the strong connection with regional collectors and the timing that aligned with major cultural moments, including the opening of the Zayed National Museum and the Formula 1 Grand Prix. She said Sotheby’s Icons exhibition was “one of the most important fine art exhibitions ever staged outside of a museum in the Middle East.”
Nearly one-third of auction participants were under the age of 40, further signalling the emergence of a younger generation of collectors in the UAE and beyond.
