Sotheby's will launch its first luxury marquee auction series in Abu Dhabi this December, called Abu Dhabi Collectors' Week. Running from December 3 to 5 at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, the sales will feature cars, watches, jewelry, and real estate, alongside a museum-quality art exhibition spanning Old Masters to contemporary works. The auctions are organized in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and coincide with major regional events like the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi Finance Week. Headline lots include The Desert Rose diamond (estimated $5–7 million), a rare Rolex Daytona watch ($500,000–$1 million), and a 2017 Pagani Zonda 760 Riviera ($9.5–10.5 million).
This move matters because it signals Sotheby's deepening pivot to the Middle East as fine art sales struggle, with luxury sales now accounting for roughly a third of its $6 billion total. The auction house has seen record buyer numbers from the region and recently secured a $1 billion investment from Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund ADQ. By establishing a dedicated luxury auction week in Abu Dhabi, Sotheby's is tapping into the region's booming luxury market—which grew 6 percent last year to nearly $13 billion—and positioning itself as a global luxury brand beyond the traditional art world.