Abu Dhabi is preparing to host a four-day event of auctions, exhibitions and round-table discussions that underlines its meteoric rise as a global hub for arts and culture. Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week, which will run from 2 to 5 December 2025, is a collaboration between Sotheby’s auction house and Abu Dhabi Investment Office that will unite collectors, investors and experts in luxury from across the globe. The event is being hosted by the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, which sits within the capital’s main cultural district.
Abu Dhabi’s renaissance was underpinned by the development of Saadiyat Island, transforming the quiet fishing destination into a centre of culture. That transformation was led by Louvre Abu Dhabi, which brought one of the world’s most venerable institutions to the capital as the result of a landmark agreement between the UAE and France. By the end of 2025, Zayed National Museum and Abu Dhabi’s very own Natural History Museum will broaden the island’s unique visual and artistic identity, followed by the Guggenheim next year. Saadiyat Island is being recognised as the capital of culture in the UAE, making it an obvious choice to host an event focused on life’s finer things.
Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week will mark the beginning of what is typically one of the busiest months in the capital and across the broader region. The conclusion of the event will line up with the start of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on nearby Yas Island, with Abu Dhabi Finance Week, the Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit and Bitcoin MENA taking place soon after. Coupled with some fantastic winter weather, this period will see a sharp rise in international visitors, many of whom will no doubt have a keen eye for rare collectibles.
Sotheby’s Auctions in Abu Dhabi
In 2017, Sotheby’s expanded into the Middle East with its first Dubai office. Having built its regional presence over nearly a decade, the acclaimed auction house has now turned its gaze towards Abu Dhabi. This underlines the immense cultural growth the UAE capital has been able to achieve and is a natural next step in its evolution. The inaugural Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi auction was held during the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 in early October, which saw the New York Knicks face off against the Philadelphia 76ers. An online-only sale, it gave basketball fans an incredible opportunity to bid on jerseys and memorabilia from both teams.
The December sale, which marks the culmination of Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week, will deepen the auction house’s presence in the capital alongside its automotive counterpart RM Sotheby’s by showcasing a variety of items united by a sense of rarity and a distinguished provenance. Chief among them are a Hermes handbag once owned by Jane Birkin and an extensive collection of watches and jewellery from a single collector, of which the centrepiece is the brilliant Desert Rose Diamond. Believed to be the largest Fancy Vivid Orangey Pink stone ever graded, it weighs in at an impressive 31.86 carats and is estimated to fetch as much as SAR25.5 million.
RM Sotheby’s, which made its regional debut in Dubai with two hugely successful auctions, brings an enviable lineup of supercars to the grounds of St. Regis Saadiyat. At the top of the lineup is a 1994 McLaren F1, one of the world’s most acclaimed modern supercars. This example was delivered new to the Brunei Royal Family and, in its restored form, commands an estimate upward of SAR79 million. McLaren also offers three unique and historic opportunities to own its newest competition racers that will participate in upcoming Formula 1, IndyCar and World Endurance Championship events. All three vehicles are singular productions that come packed with bonuses in addition to ownership. Leading that pack is a 2026 McLaren Formula 1 car with an expected price tag of SAR 45 million.
For watch lovers, a rare Rolex ‘Albino’ Daytona reference 62623, which swaps out the usual two-tone dial for a monochrome look that has resulted in its unusual nickname. Only a handful are known to exist and this particular piece has never before come to market. It is estimated to fetch as much as SAR3.75 million.
What to Expect from Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week
The auction is only one part of the week’s schedule of events and for those who are not looking to bid or purchase, there is plenty just to explore and discover.
Many of the lots will be part of public exhibitions held throughout the week, offering visitors the rare chance to view items that are generally kept behind locked doors. Discussions and panels will dive deeper into the history of these rare items, and will pose larger questions around the legacy and preservation of pieces that hold great cultural value. For many, this is a welcome opportunity to broaden their understanding of timeless pieces without the expectation of a purchase.
The arrival of an event of this magnitude is not a grand leap, but a natural step forward on a path that Abu Dhabi has been treading for several years. By developing a slate of cultural programmes and initiatives, the city has built a distinct identity that doesn’t seek to imitate or replicate what has been successful elsewhere. Partnering with global powerhouses like the Louvre and Guggenheim has given Abu Dhabi a platform to create uniquely immersive experiences for showcasing the UAE’s own vibrant culture. Its charm also lies in a more relaxed pace of life compared to other major capitals and even its neighbour Dubai, allowing visitors and residents the space to have the sort of conversations that may usually get lost in the noise of a big city. Saadiyat Island is a reflection of the emirate on a smaller scale, with homes that look out over endless blue horizons and spaces that are designed to invite exploration.
Final Thoughts
There is more to Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week than showcasing rare and valuable items. It is an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of what gives certain objects an intrinsic sense of value, whether that is emotional or financial. The engineering that goes into the world’s most powerful supercars, the painstaking craftsmanship that produces fine jewellery and watches, the delicate brushstrokes that give life to a work of art - these are the elements that can elevate something ordinary into a collectible.
Some will be attending the event to bid at the auctions, while others will just be there to observe. All of them will be drawn to Saadiyat in order to experience the stories behind the collections as the island pens the next chapter in its own history.
