Sotheby’s is set to stage its first major auction series in Abu Dhabi this winter, cementing the capital’s growing reputation as a global destination for culture, art, and luxury. Scheduled from December 2–5, 2025 at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, the event will anchor the inaugural “Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week”—a new platform blending world-class exhibitions with headline sales.
The initiative, developed in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), highlights the emirate’s fast-rising profile in the luxury and cultural landscape. The series will feature categories spanning high jewellery, exceptional timepieces, rare collector cars, fine art, and prime real estate through Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions and RM Sotheby’s.
Among the highlights is a single-owner trove of jewellery and watches expected to exceed $20 million. At its centre is “The Desert Rose,” a 31.86-carat Fancy Vivid Orangy Pink diamond—the largest of its kind ever certified—estimated at $5–7 million. The collection also includes a coveted Rolex “Oyster Albino” Daytona, valued between $500,000 and $1 million.
Automotive collectors will see RM Sotheby’s team up with McLaren Racing to offer three next-generation competition cars: a 2026 McLaren Formula 1 Team car, a 2027 McLaren United AS racer, and a 2026 Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team car. They will go under the hammer on December 5, in sync with Abu Dhabi’s Formula 1 Grand Prix finale. Other notable consignments include a 2017 Pagani Zonda 760 Riviera (estimate: $9.5–10.5 million) and a 2010 Aston Martin One-77 (estimate: $1.3–1.6 million).
The week-long celebration aligns with major regional gatherings such as the Milken Institute Middle East & Africa Summit, Abu Dhabi Finance Week, and Bitcoin MENA, promising a convergence of global collectors, investors, and thought leaders.
Reflecting on the debut, Noora Al Foulathi, Head of Abu Dhabi Retail, remarked: “Abu Dhabi is where heritage transcends time and connoisseurship is a way of life. Collectors’ Week is more than a showcase of rare objects—it is a testament to the capital’s cultural depth and quiet power of true luxury.”