Sotheby’s has announced the full programme for its first-ever Collectors’ Week in Abu Dhabi, presented in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO). The event, running 2–5 December at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, brings more than $1 billion in fine art and luxury items to the UAE capital through exhibitions, private sales, talks, and a major series of auctions.
“Sotheby’s is delighted to extend our commitment in the Middle East with our first-ever Collectors’ Week. The UAE has rapidly become a global centre for art, luxury and culture, and we are honoured to present a world-class lineup of auctions, panels and masterclasses to the region, during one of the busiest weeks of the year in their calendar. Thank you to our partners at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office for helping us bring our programme to life,” said Charles F. Stewart, Sotheby’s CEO.
The most notable part of the lineup is the automotive offering. Sotheby’s will present three McLaren Racing cars across Formula 1, INDYCAR, and the FIA World Endurance Championship. The headlining lot is a 2026 McLaren Formula 1 Team car, being offered months before the car is unveiled to the public. The winning bidder will acquire the chassis that will be driven by Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri during the 2026 Formula 1 season. The package also includes access and experiences connected to McLaren Racing’s activities.
Additional McLaren cars from the INDYCAR and WEC programmes will also be available, making this one of the most comprehensive McLaren offerings to appear at auction.
“Hosting the inaugural Collectors’ Week in Abu Dhabi reflects our city’s leading position in the world of rare and highly coveted collector pieces. The unveiling of extraordinary items – from McLaren’s next F1 concept to the largest flawless diamond in the world and the first complete Patek Philippe Star Caliber 2000 ever offered – affirms Abu Dhabi’s place at the heart of the world’s most exceptional collections. This partnership with Sotheby’s cements our city as the ‘Capital of Collectibles’; and beyond the auctions themselves, it’s about the conversations, connections, and sense of community that events like this create. We are proud to welcome this debut edition to the capital,” added Noora Al Foulathi, Head of Abu Dhabi Retail.
The auctions on 5 December will feature approximately $150 million in luxury items. Beyond the cars, highlights include Jane Birkin’s personal Birkin bag, the largest Fancy Vivid Orangy Pink Diamond in the world, and the first complete set of Patek Philippe Star Caliber 2000 to appear at auction. Four Colnago bicycles, two international properties, and a range of jewellery, watches, and handbags will also be presented.
Alongside the auctions, more than $100 million in items will be offered for private sale, including the largest flawless diamond in the world, the largest deep green diamond, and a selection of modern timepieces.
Sotheby’s and ADIO will also stage a fine art exhibition featuring a major Rembrandt drawing, Gustav Klimt’s Lady with a Fan, the original Birkin bag created for Jane Birkin, the Guennol Lioness, and Banksy’s Girl Without Balloon.
Collectors’ Week will include over a dozen talks and panel discussions open to the public, covering topics across art, jewellery, design, and cultural history. Don’t miss it.
