The very first Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week, hosted in early December at St. Regis Saadiyat Beach, brought global collectors and lifestyle experts from across the globe to Abu Dhabi. Over the course of three days, various talks and exhibitions highlighted the unique allure held by collectibles. A combination of historical value, scarcity and pure emotional appeal can imbue even the most ordinary objects with a sense of mythology - but the items showcased during the week were far from ordinary to start with. This is evidenced by the phenomenal results of Abu Dhabi’s inaugural auctions, which saw several high-profile lots soar past their initial estimates over several intense rounds of bidding. RM Sotheby’s was the big winner of the week, with a record AED 312 million - north of $85 million - in sales, the highest transaction value for a Middle East auction to date.
A Historic Night for McLaren
A total of 31 lots were up for sale on the big night, presented in a serene open-air setting by the beach. The star of the show was an iconic 1994 McLaren F1 that represented the perfect marriage of racing technology and road car specs. Though designed for the road by Gordon Murray, it would serve as the blueprint for a racer that ended up winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995. This was the 14th chassis out of 64 examples, delivered in a striking Titanium Yellow with black leather interiors to the Royal Family of Brunei. It would go on to change hands a few times over the years, getting re-finished in its current Ibis White at some point and fitted with the High Downforce Kit - among the last handful of F1s to receive the coveted upgrade.
The 1994 F1 was estimated to fetch more than $21 million and ended up easily clearing that value as the hammer fell at $25.3 million, making it the highest valued sale of the auction and one of the year’s defining collector car sales. But for McLaren, the show was far from over.
Through a unique and first of its kind partnership with RM Sotheby’s the marque offered up the Triple Crown collection, a trio of cars designed for three key upcoming races: Formula 1, the World Endurance Championships, and Indy500. McLaren was the only carmaker to have won all three previously and has its sights on repeating that feat over the span of a single season. The lucky auction winners will have the actual chassis used in each race delivered to them at the end of the season. The cars also come with additional perks, including an opportunity to tour McLaren’s new facilities in Woking and VIP race tickets complete with hospitality experiences.
Leading the pack was the 2026 MCL40A for the Formula 1 team, which will see either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri behind the wheel next year, selling for $11.8 million and becoming the second highest sale of the night. This was followed by a $7.59 million winning bid for the 2027 WEC LMDh Hypercar and $848,750 for the 2026 Arrow McLaren IndyCar DW 12, to be piloted by Pato O’Ward. In an intriguing twist, both of the more expensive sales remained within their estimates, while the IndyCar sold for much higher than projected.
The renowned marque dominated with its presence, but there were several other notable sales over the course of the auction
An Evening of Supercar Glory
Ferrari was the other big winner, with a quartet of brand icons that sold for a combined value of more than $11.1 million. The headliner was a 1990 Ferrari F40 originally delivered to four-time F1 champion Alain Prost, whose signature still graces the roof of the car. The rest of the lineup comprised a 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari, a 2022 Ferrari Monza SP2, and a 2011 Ferrari SA Asperta that was among 80 cars produced for Pininfarina’s 80th anniversary.
A 2006 Pagani Zonda Riviera was another high-profile lot, standing out with its sleek pearl white exteriors offset by electric blue accents inspired by the eponymous stretch of Mediterranean coastline. Starting out as a Zonda F, the Riviera was completely rebuilt under the UNICO customisation programme, where clients have the opportunity to work hand in hand with designers to realise their perfect automotive vision. Rounding out the evening’s top three sales, the Riviera sold for $10.1 million, which was near the top end of its estimate and almost twice the value it fetched previously at auction.
The newest car among the lots was a spectacular Gordon Murray Automotive T.50, seen as the spiritual successor to the McLaren F1. Although the latter is a road icon, Murray was never completely satisfied with it and set out to create what he considered the perfect road vehicle. Building on the strengths of the F1 and streamlining them, the GMA team built a powerful, lightweight hypercar with a flowing silhouette that does away with unsightly protrusions. The interiors were designed in a similarly minimalist vein, ensuring a more focused driving experience. Presented in glossy grey, this was the first GMA auctioned publicly and fetched a handsome $5.63 million.
Closing 2025 on a High Note
While it has been a busy year for Sotheby’s the past two months have brought a new sense of vigour to the market. Undoubtedly the highlight has been the art sales at the auction house’s recently unveiled New York headquarters at the Breuer Building, where a rare portrait by Gustav Klimt set the market buzzing with a final sale price of $236 million, the highest ever for a work of modern art and second only to Da Vinci’s Salvador Mundi.
The first ever auction held in Abu Dhabi turned out to be a ‘white glove sale’ - the most ideal outcome for any auction house where every single lot finds a buyer. In total, more than $25 million worth of jewellery and watches were sold. The headline sale was a set of four Star Caliber 2000 pocket watches by Patek Philippe, which closed at $11.9 million. This was the first time a complete set has been up for public auction and it was the second highest watch sale by Sotheby’s.
Another prolific and much talked about item was the ‘Desert Rose’, which went beyond its estimates to become the most expensive orangy-pink diamond ever sold at $8.8 million.
Abu Dhabi has been quietly building its reputation as the UAE’s cultural ambassador, the focal point of which is Saadiyat Island. With a tremendously successful conclusion to its inaugural Collectors’ Week, lining up with the opening of the Natural History Museum and Zayed National Museum, the emirate has firmly established itself as a global capital of culture and the arts.