Today's Edition
A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
Two extraordinary hypercars, one orangy pink diamond, and a rare Rolex are among the several precious treasures that will come up for auction during the upcoming Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week, to be held from December 2 to 5, 2025 at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort.
Sotheby’s, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), has unveiled an exclusive programme of auctions, masterclasses, panel discussions and exhibitions that will firmly place Abu Dhabi on the global luxury and art map.
The initiative begins in September, with the first auction in October coinciding with The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 presented by ADQ, leading into December’s showcase. Collectors’ Week is timed to run alongside one of the busiest weeks in the capital, which also features the Formula One Grand Prix, the Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit, Abu Dhabi Finance Week and Bitcoin MENA.
Katia Nounou Boueiz, Head of Sotheby’s UAE and Deputy Chairman for the Middle East, said: “By any measure, Abu Dhabi has become a leading global destination for culture and luxury. In that spirit, we are excited to join forces with ADIO to present a vision of the future for collecting and luxury experiences.”
Among the headline lots are the one-off 2017 Pagani Zonda 760 Riviera, estimated at $9.5–10.5 million, and a 2010 Aston Martin One-77, one of only 77 ever made, estimated at $1.3–1.6 million. “Two legendary hypercars and two ultimate objects of desire will headline RM Sotheby’s debut at Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week,” a statement said.
“This is no ordinary auction. It’s the birth of a new global gathering for collectors, conceived by Sotheby’s and promoted with the strategic support of ADIO. Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week will be a stage where art, design, fine jewellery, watches, real estate, and automobiles unite under one vision: to celebrate rarity, beauty, and exclusivity,” the statement added.
Duccio Lopresto, Managing Director MENA at RM Sotheby’s, commented: “The Pagani Zonda 760 Riviera and Aston Martin One-77 are the ultimate expressions of performance, craftsmanship, and distinction. It is a celebration of power, elegance, and exclusivity.”
Crafted by Horacio Pagani as a bespoke evolution of the Zonda F, the 760 Riviera is the only example of its kind in existence, finished in pearl white with electric blue accents and powered by a naturally aspirated AMG-tuned V12. With just 908 kilometres on the clock, it comes with full factory documentation.
The Aston Martin One-77, one of only 77 units ever produced, features a carbon fibre chassis, hand-beaten aluminium bodywork and a 7.3-litre V12. This particular model, finished in pearl white with black leather interior and red accents, has a mere 2,744 kilometres on the odometer. “Both the Pagani Zonda 760 Riviera and the Aston Martin One-77 are masterpieces that redefine what collectors expect from hypercars,” said Stephan Knobloch, Senior Car Specialist at RM Sotheby’s. “Each car tells a unique story of design innovation, exclusivity, and engineering excellence.”
The jewellery and watch auctions will showcase a landmark single-owner collection valued at over $20 million. At its heart is The Desert Rose – a 31.86-carat Fancy Vivid Orangy Pink diamond, the largest of its kind ever graded, carrying an estimate of $5–7 million. Among the standout timepieces is a rare Rolex “Oyster Albino” Daytona reference 6263, estimated at $500,000–1 million.
Produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s, this highly coveted model departs from the classic Cosmograph Daytona design with its striking monochromatic silver dial and registers. Only a handful of examples are known, one of which was famously owned by Eric Clapton.
Adding to the exclusivity, RM Sotheby’s will also auction a trio of McLaren Racing competition cars, including a forthcoming 2026 Formula 1 team car chassis, to be sold during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend. The week’s offerings will be previewed at Sotheby’s global locations ahead of the Abu Dhabi sales, giving international collectors an early look before they reach the capital.
Jean-Luc Berrebi, Sotheby’s board member, said: “Sotheby’s incorporation in Abu Dhabi marks a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to the UAE and the wider Middle East. This strategic move reflects our deep confidence in the region’s dynamic cultural landscape.”
The auction series follows sovereign wealth fund ADQ’s acquisition of a minority stake in Sotheby’s in 2024, the largest art-industry investment since Patrick Drahi’s takeover in 2019. The collaboration with ADIO is part of Abu Dhabi’s wider push to accelerate economic diversification and establish the emirate as a premier hub for culture, art and luxury.
Josh Pullan, Global Head of Sotheby’s Luxury Division, underlined the significance: “This unprecedented auction week is poised to showcase the very best of what Sotheby’s has to offer. With the Middle East – and the UAE in particular – as one of the most dynamic drivers of the luxury industry, we could have chosen no better home than Abu Dhabi.”
