Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
Sotheby’s will hold its first international fine art auction in Abu Dhabi in December, bringing works by internationally renowned artists and leading figures of the Middle Eastern art scene to the UAE capital as the auction house expands its presence in the region.
Titled Breaking Ground, the auction will feature around 40 artworks and form part of Sotheby’s second Collectors’ Week in Abu Dhabi, which will bring together six auctions covering fine art and luxury collectibles on Saadiyat Island.
Estimates range from $25,000 to more than $2 million, according to Katia Nounou Boueiz, head of Sotheby’s UAE and chairman of its Middle East operations.
Among the highest-valued works are Claude Monet’s “Prunes et Abricots”, an oil painting estimated at $2 million to $2.6 million, and Andy Warhol’s “Ads”, a portfolio carrying an estimate of $2 million to $3 million.
The sale will also feature “Untitled” by British artist Jadé Fadojutimi, estimated at $500,000 to $700,000, and Fernando Botero’s bronze sculpture “Donna con Ombrello”, valued at $350,000 to $550,000.
Adding a local dimension to the international line-up is a drawing by Christo depicting the proposed “Abu Dhabi Mastaba”, a monumental public artwork conceived by Christo and Jeanne-Claude for the Liwa desert. The project was planned as the artists’ final work is estimated at $180,000 to $250,000.
Boueiz told Aletihad that art had been part of Sotheby’s plans for Abu Dhabi from the beginning, following the inaugural Collectors’ Week in December 2025.
The previous edition featured a non-selling art exhibition that attracted attention beyond traditional art audiences, including visitors who had come to see watches, jewellery, handbags and collectible cars.
“This year the stars aligned with Frieze Abu Dhabi and the opening of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and the timing felt perfect for us to bring an auction of international art to Saadiyat Island,” she said.
Beyond bringing international works to Abu Dhabi, Sotheby’s hopes the sale will give Emirati artists greater exposure among collectors worldwide.
The selection includes works by Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim and Hassan Sharif, pioneers of contemporary art in the UAE, alongside artists from across the Middle East and beyond.
The selection includes works by pioneering Emirati contemporary artists Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim and Hassan Sharif. It will also mark the auction debuts of Emirati artists Nujoom Al-Ghanem and Nasser Al-Yousif.
Women artists will feature prominently, including Jadé Fadojutimi, Huguette Caland, Inji Efflatoun, Fahrelnissa Zeid, Najat Makki and Etel Adnan.
Boueiz said the global reach of the sale could create opportunities for collectors to discover unexpected connections between artists from different backgrounds.
“What I hope this auction will achieve is to introduce these artists to a much wider audience – whether it is the Emirati artists being introduced to international collectors, or vice versa,” she said. “It’ll be exciting to see what speaks to who when our doors open.”
The public preview exhibitions will open on December 4 at the Saadiyat Grove Experience Center. Five luxury auctions covering handbags, watches, jewellery, bicycles and cars will take place on December 9, followed by the Breaking Ground fine art auction on December 10.
Boueiz stressed that the company’s commitment to the UAE extends beyond a single event. “We are investing in the UAE for the long term, so this is not a one off,” she said.
The auction, Boueiz added, is part of a broader effort to establish Abu Dhabi as “an increasingly important destination on the international art market calendar, connecting collectors from across the region and beyond while contributing to the continued growth of its cultural ecosystem”.
