Returning for its second edition, Sotheby’s Collectors’ Week will bring six auctions spanning fine art, jewellery, watches, handbags and collectable cars to Saadiyat Island.
Abu Dhabi’s growing reputation as an international destination for art and collecting is set to receive another boost this December as Sotheby’s returns to the capital for its second Collectors’ Week. Following its inaugural edition in 2025, the auction house is expanding its programme with six sales, including its first international fine art auction in the emirate.
Taking place at the new Saadiyat Grove Experience Center, the event will bring together works by internationally recognised artists, pioneering figures from the UAE’s contemporary art scene and an exceptional selection of luxury collectables. Here’s what we know.
A New Milestone for Fine Art
Titled Breaking Ground, the fine art auction will feature works by Andy Warhol, Claude Monet, and leading Middle Eastern artists. Among the highlights is Warhol’s Ads portfolio from 1985, created just two years before his death. The series reflects his fascination with advertising, celebrity and popular culture, subjects that defined much of his artistic career.
Emirati artists will also occupy an important place in the sale, with paintings by Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim and Hassan Sharif, both influential figures in the development of contemporary art in the UAE.
Another particularly significant work is a drawing by Christo depicting the proposed Abu Dhabi Mastaba, a monumental public artwork planned for the Liwa desert. Conceived with Jeanne-Claude, the project has long been associated with the Emirates and was intended as their final permanent work.
Women artists are another major focus, with pieces by Huguette Caland, Etel Adnan, Fahrelnissa Zeid, Inji Efflatoun, Najat Makki, Mona Saudi and others. The auction will also introduce works by Emirati artist and filmmaker Nujoom Al-Ghanem and Bahraini artist Nasser Al-Yousif to the auction market for the first time.
Speaking about the selection, Yasmeen Gailani, Sotheby’s Specialist and Head of Sale for Breaking Ground, said: “We wanted to pay tribute to the emirate’s position as a global destination for art, culture and collecting.”
Iconic Timepieces, Rare Gemstones and Collectable Cars
Alongside the fine art auction, Sotheby’s will present five sales dedicated to luxury collectibles.
Watch collectors can look forward to Shapes of Cartier, featuring approximately 50 timepieces from a single-owner collection. Among them is a rare Cartier Twin Strap dating to around 1970–1971, reflecting the Maison’s history of unconventional watch design.
The jewellery auction, Colour & Splendour, will offer several exceptional gemstones and creations, including a rectangular brilliant-cut Fancy Brown-Orange diamond weighing over 40 carats, a ruby and diamond fringe necklace, and a 10.51-carat crescent emerald and diamond pendant.
Automotive collectors will find an impressive selection of Ferrari models, including a 2009 Scuderia Spider 16M, a 2004 360 Challenge Stradale and a 2006 612 Scaglietti F1 HGTC finished in rare Gris Violet. A 2010 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano in Ivory Cream will also feature.
The programme also includes dedicated auctions for handbags and high-performance bicycles, extending the event’s appeal across different collecting categories.
A Growing Destination for Collectors
The expansion of Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi programme reflects the UAE’s growing importance in international art and luxury markets.
Introducing a major fine art sale alongside established luxury categories is particularly significant, bringing internationally recognised works into direct conversation with artists whose practices have helped shape the region’s cultural identity.
For collectors and art enthusiasts, the public exhibitions will provide an opportunity to view the works and objects ahead of the auctions, with a programme of discussions, events and masterclasses also planned.
Sotheby’s Collectors’ Week 2026 Dates:
Public exhibitions: From 4 December 2026
Luxury auctions: 9 December 2026
Breaking Ground fine art auction: 10 December 2026
Venue: Saadiyat Grove Experience Center, Abu Dhabi
