Abu Dhabi to Welcome Collectors’ Week in December, Featuring Six Art and Luxury Auctions.
Sotheby’s is set to return to Abu Dhabi this December for the second edition of Collectors’ Week, marking a major milestone with its first international fine art auction in the emirate.
The event will feature six auctions spanning fine art and luxury collectibles, including prestigious watches, jewellery, designer handbags, rare automobiles and high-performance bicycles.
Public exhibitions will begin on December 4 at the Saadiyat Grove Experience Centre on Saadiyat Island, offering visitors an opportunity to view the collections before bidding begins.
Five luxury auctions are scheduled for December 9, while the international fine art sale, titled Breaking Ground, will take place on December 10.
The programme will showcase a diverse selection of works by internationally celebrated artists, influential figures from the Middle Eastern art world and artists whose contributions have helped shape the UAE’s cultural identity.
Global Art Icons and UAE Pioneers Take Centre Stage
The Breaking Ground auction will bring together masterpieces and significant works by renowned international artists, including Andy Warhol and Claude Monet, alongside prominent names associated with the UAE’s contemporary art movement.
Among the notable highlights is Warhol’s Ads portfolio, created in 1985, just two years before the American artist’s death.
The series reflects Warhol’s fascination with advertising, fashion, cinema and celebrity culture, themes that played a defining role in his artistic career.
The auction will also present works by Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim and Hassan Sharif, two influential pioneers whose contributions helped establish and develop contemporary art in the UAE.
Another significant piece is a drawing by Christo connected to the Abu Dhabi Mastaba, a proposed monumental public artwork conceived by Christo and Jeanne-Claude for the Liwa desert.
The ambitious project was envisioned as the artists’ final major work and remains closely associated with the region’s artistic landscape.
Women Artists to Feature Prominently
Female artists will have a strong presence in the Breaking Ground sale, reflecting their contributions to regional and international artistic movements.
The auction will feature works by Huguette Caland, Jadé Fadojutimi, Inji Efflatoun, Fahrelnissa Zeid, Najat Makki, Mona Saudi, Gazbia Sirry, Zarina and Etel Adnan.
Sotheby’s will also present works by Emirati artist Nujoom Al-Ghanem and artist Nasser Al-Yousif at auction for the first time, collaborating with the artists and their estates.
Additional names represented in the sale include S.H. Raza, Fernando Botero, Salvo, Bernard Buffet, Paul Guiragossian, Farid Belkahia and Aref El Rayess.
Yasmeen Gailani, Sotheby’s specialist and head of sale for Breaking Ground, said the collection brings together globally recognised figures and established regional artists while introducing works that may be unfamiliar to collectors in the UAE.
Rare Cartier Watches and Ferraris Headline Luxury Auctions
The five luxury auctions taking place on December 9 will offer collectors an extensive selection of watches, handbags, jewellery, performance bicycles and collectible automobiles.
One of the major attractions will be the Shapes of Cartier watch auction, featuring approximately 50 timepieces from a single-owner collection.
Among the standout pieces is a rare Cartier Twin Strap watch dating from around 1970 to 1971.
According to Sotheby’s, the collection previously generated interest during auctions held in Hong Kong and Geneva earlier in 2026.
Automobile enthusiasts will also have an opportunity to bid on several Ferrari models representing different chapters of the Italian manufacturer’s modern history.
Notable vehicles include:
- A 2009 Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M presented in its original launch colours.
- A 2004 Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale, originally delivered in Switzerland.
- A 2006 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti F1 HGTC finished in Gris Violet.
- A 2010 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano presented in Ivory Cream.
Exceptional Diamonds, Rubies and Emeralds on Offer
The jewellery auction will feature a selection of precious gemstones and statement pieces designed to appeal to luxury collectors.
Highlights include a rectangular brilliant-cut fancy brown-orange diamond weighing more than 40 carats, alongside a necklace adorned with rubies and diamonds.
Another notable piece is a crescent-shaped emerald and diamond pendant featuring a 10.51-carat emerald.
Dedicated auctions for designer handbags and high-performance bicycles will complete the six-sale programme, bringing together fine art, luxury craftsmanship and collectible design during Sotheby’s December return to Abu Dhabi.
Saadiyat Island to Host Exhibitions and Cultural Events
Visitors will have the opportunity to explore Sotheby’s collections when the public auction previews open on December 4, several days before the bidding begins.
Alongside the exhibitions, the auction house is planning a series of special events, expert-led panel discussions and masterclasses featuring industry specialists, prominent cultural personalities and invited guests.
The programme will take place at the Saadiyat Grove Experience Centre, situated on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island, an important destination for arts and culture in the UAE.
The venue is located near Louvre Abu Dhabi and other major cultural landmarks, including Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The upcoming event follows the successful launch of Sotheby’s Collectors’ Week in Abu Dhabi in December 2025, when the auction house hosted sales focused on luxury collectibles.
For its second edition, Sotheby’s is expanding the programme to include international fine art, with the Breaking Ground auction representing its first sale of this category in the emirate.
Sotheby’s Collectors’ Week 2026: Dates, Venue and Auction Schedule
The second edition of Sotheby’s Collectors’ Week will run from December 4 to 10, 2026, with exhibitions and auctions taking place at the Saadiyat Grove Experience Centre on Saadiyat Island.
The public exhibitions will open on December 4, allowing art enthusiasts and collectors to examine selected artworks and luxury pieces before the scheduled auctions.
The six auctions will be held over two days:
December 9 – Five Luxury Auctions
- Icons of Elegance: A selection of collectible and luxury handbags.
- Shapes of Cartier: Rare and distinctive Cartier timepieces.
- Colour & Splendour: Fine jewellery featuring precious gemstones.
- The Statement: High-performance and collectible bicycles.
- Driven by Design: Luxury and collectible automobiles.
December 10 – International Fine Art Auction
- Breaking Ground: Sotheby’s inaugural international fine art auction in Abu Dhabi, featuring works by leading global and regional artists.
In addition to the sales, visitors can attend cultural events, panel discussions and specialist-led masterclasses organised as part of the week-long programme.
Sotheby’s is expected to announce further information about individual auction lots in November 2026, giving prospective buyers and art enthusiasts additional insight into the works and collectibles on offer.
Those interested in attending the exhibitions or learning more about the auction schedule can find further details on Sotheby’s official website.
