Sotheby’s is adding a December fine art auction in Abu Dhabi, a new element in the city’s collector calendar as Christie’s prepares its own art sale for November.
Gulf News reported that Sotheby’s intends to stage Breaking Ground on Dec. 10, marking the auction house’s inaugural international fine art sale in the emirate. Five other auctions are planned for Dec. 9, covering watches, jewelry, handbags, cars and high-performance bicycles. The six sales are scheduled for Saadiyat Grove Experience Centre on Saadiyat Island, where public previews are due to begin Dec. 4.
The planned art sale brings together works by international and regional artists. Gulf News reported that the lineup includes Claude Monet and Andy Warhol, as well as Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, Hassan Sharif and Najat Makki. Sotheby’s also plans to offer works by Nujoom Al-Ghanem and Nasser Al-Yousif at auction for the first time, the report said. Among the reported highlights are Warhol’s 1985 Ads portfolio and a Christo drawing connected to the proposed Abu Dhabi Mastaba in the Liwa desert.
Sotheby’s 2025 Abu Dhabi program included luxury auctions and a fine art display. The December event adds a fine art auction to the sales program. Christie’s has announced its first Abu Dhabi fine art auction for Nov. 1, 20 years after its first sale in the United Arab Emirates in 2006.
The Dec. 9 watch auction is expected to feature about 50 pieces from one owner, including a Twin Strap watch dating to around 1970-71, Gulf News reported. The car sale is set to include several Ferrari models, while jewelry offerings include a diamond weighing more than 40 carats. Sotheby’s is also planning talks, events and masterclasses alongside the public previews. Further information about lots is expected in November, ahead of the Dec. 4 exhibition opening.
