Sotheby's has wrapped up its inaugural Abu Dhabi Collectors' Week with a resounding $133 million in sales. The three-day event, which featured auctions, private sales, exhibitions, and masterclasses, brought together some of the world's most discerning collectors under one roof.
The automotive category was a standout performer, with a 1994 McLaren F1 selling for a staggering $25.3 million, exceeding its estimated value by millions. The sale also set a new high-water mark for any collector car auction staged in the Middle East. Another highlight was the debut of a unique diamond known as "The Desert Rose," which sold for $8.8 million after an intense bidding battle.
In the realm of jewelry and watches, Sotheby's delivered another strong performance. A four-piece Patek Philippe Star Caliber 2000 fetched $11.9 million, while a Tiffany & Co. sapphire and diamond ring from the 1930s sold for $596,900, surpassing its estimated value by more than two-fold.
The sale also featured a number of rare and high-performance bicycles, with a Colnago bike ridden by Tadej Pogačar selling for $190,500 - more than nine times its estimated value. The top lot was the Y1Rs Raw Carbon bicycle, which climbed to nearly twice its estimated price after intense bidding.
Sotheby's also debuted "Icons," its first-ever non-selling exhibition of some of the most expensive masterpieces ever handled by the auction house. The exhibition drew over 5,000 visitors to the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort and solidified Sotheby's position as a cultural destination in Abu Dhabi.
The success of Collectors' Week is a testament to the Gulf region's accelerating luxury market, with demand for high-end goods showing no signs of slowing. The region is expected to grow to $24.36 billion by 2030, making it one of the most lucrative luxury markets in the world.
Sotheby's CEO Charles F. Stewart hailed the week as a "historic chapter" for the company in Abu Dhabi, describing it as an "opening act with clear long-term ambitions." The event marked the first time Sotheby's had brought its flagship auction house to the region, and it promises to be just the beginning of a new era for luxury sales in the Middle East.
The automotive category was a standout performer, with a 1994 McLaren F1 selling for a staggering $25.3 million, exceeding its estimated value by millions. The sale also set a new high-water mark for any collector car auction staged in the Middle East. Another highlight was the debut of a unique diamond known as "The Desert Rose," which sold for $8.8 million after an intense bidding battle.
In the realm of jewelry and watches, Sotheby's delivered another strong performance. A four-piece Patek Philippe Star Caliber 2000 fetched $11.9 million, while a Tiffany & Co. sapphire and diamond ring from the 1930s sold for $596,900, surpassing its estimated value by more than two-fold.
The sale also featured a number of rare and high-performance bicycles, with a Colnago bike ridden by Tadej Pogačar selling for $190,500 - more than nine times its estimated value. The top lot was the Y1Rs Raw Carbon bicycle, which climbed to nearly twice its estimated price after intense bidding.
Sotheby's also debuted "Icons," its first-ever non-selling exhibition of some of the most expensive masterpieces ever handled by the auction house. The exhibition drew over 5,000 visitors to the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort and solidified Sotheby's position as a cultural destination in Abu Dhabi.
The success of Collectors' Week is a testament to the Gulf region's accelerating luxury market, with demand for high-end goods showing no signs of slowing. The region is expected to grow to $24.36 billion by 2030, making it one of the most lucrative luxury markets in the world.
Sotheby's CEO Charles F. Stewart hailed the week as a "historic chapter" for the company in Abu Dhabi, describing it as an "opening act with clear long-term ambitions." The event marked the first time Sotheby's had brought its flagship auction house to the region, and it promises to be just the beginning of a new era for luxury sales in the Middle East.
it was like 133 million dollars!!! i mean that's insane! they even sold a mclaren f1 for like over 25 mil 
i dont understand how ppl can afford that kinda money tho isnt that just crazy rich people stuff? and what's up with all these weird bikes 
u cant even buy one of those at a normal bike shop lol anyway, im guessing this means Abu Dhabi is like a big deal now in the luxury world...
!! i'm not surprised tho, abu dhabi's got such a thriving luxury market right now. that mclaren f1 sale was insane 
and the 'desert rose' diamond sold for so much? wow! it just goes to show how much people are willing to spend on rare and unique pieces. i'm loving how sotheby's is making abu dhabi a hub for high-end sales, can't wait to see what they have in store next 
And don't even get me started on "The Desert Rose" diamond! 
It's like Sotheby's was just trolling us with how expensive it was selling for. $8.8 million? Are we kidding?! 
I swear, I need a raise after reading about all these crazy sales numbers...or at least a new bike to match the Colnago that sold for, like, a billion dollars or something 
The $133 million sales figure is insane, especially considering that one McLaren F1 went for $25.3m... like, what's next? A Bugatti Chiron? 
, but still... 190k dollars for a bike? That's just crazy talk! And don't even get me started on the "Desert Rose" diamond - $8.8 million for a rock? I've seen some big gems in my time, but that one's got to be a bit of an exaggeration 
! That McLaren F1 sale was insane 
, I mean who wouldn't want a piece of that history? And the 'Desert Rose' diamond? Mind blown 
. I'm already counting down the days until next year's Collectors' Week 
!
i wish i could afford a McLaren F1 one day lol 
.
. This is the start of something big – Sotheby's in Abu Dhabi is gonna be a major player in the luxury game for years to come 
. It's all about supply and demand, but I think it's more like supply and greed 
.
I'm not surprised about the massive haul at Sotheby's Abu Dhabi Collectors' Week 
. It's clear that Abu Dhabi is becoming a hub for luxury enthusiasts and collectors 
.
. And it's exciting to see Sotheby's making a big splash in the Middle East 
.