ABU DHABI.- Sotheby’s today reveals the full scope of its inaugural Collectors’ Week in Abu Dhabi, featuring auctions, private sale opportunities, exhibitions and a special programme of talks and masterclasses co-hosted by special guests. Staged in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), this landmark week will bring together – either on exhibit or for sale – over $1 billion of fine art and luxury items, marking a major milestone for Sotheby’s and Abu Dhabi’s luxury retail landscape.

The much-anticipated event will take place against the stunning backdrop of Abu Dhabi’s St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, with exhibitions opening to the public starting 2 December, and culminating in a series of live auctions on 5 December.

Among the $150 million in luxury offerings to be presented across five auctions on 5 December are standout items, many of which have never appeared at auction before, and all with unmatched provenance – including:

• The opportunity to acquire three McLaren Racing cars offered from across the team’s portfolio, covering the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and the FIA World Endurance Championship. Bidders will have the chance to acquire a 2026 McLaren Formula 1 Team car months before the new challenger is even unveiled to the public with the successful bidder becoming the proud owner of a chassis campaigned by one of the team’s F1 drivers, Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri, during the 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season. These three special lots include a package of perks and privileged access, offering the unique opportunity to place yourself at the heart of McLaren Racing’s on-track endeavours.

• Jane Birkin’s most personal Birkin bag – one of only five ever made for the legendary actress and style icon who was both the eponym and inspiration for the bag (est. $240,000 - 440,000)

• The largest Fancy Vivid Orangy Pink Diamond in the world (est. $5 - 7 million)

• The first complete set of Patek Philippe Star Caliber 2000 ever to be offered at auction (est. $10 - 20 million)

• Four rare, high-performance bicycles from the legendary Italian manufacturer and four-time Tour de France winner, Colnago

• Two extraordinary properties, one in the French Rivera, the other - designed by Zaha Hadid - in Austria

Alongside the remarkable auction offerings will be an exceptional showcase of rare diamonds, gemstones, high jewellery, handbags and watches - together valued at over $100m and all available for private sale, including:

• The largest flawless diamond in the world

• The largest deep green diamond in the world

• A highly important ruby necklace and earring set by Harry Winston, presented alongside a curated selection of other extraordinary jewels

• Coveted Birkin and Kelly handbags

• Modern timepieces by renowned makers such as Rolex and Patek Philippe

To complement the experience, Sotheby’s and ADIO will also be staging a landmark exhibition of Fine Art at the St Regis Hotel in Saadiyat, featuring one of the greatest drawings by Dutch master Rembrandt ever to come to market, and an adjacent exhibition of some of the most iconic works that have passed through Sotheby’s, including:

• Gustav Klimt’s Dame mit Fächer (Lady with a Fan), the artist’s likely final portrait, which achieved $108.4 million in 2023

• The Original Birkin bag, crafted for Jane Birkin by Hermès in 1985 which made a record-breaking $10.1 million earlier this year

• The Guennol Lioness, a 3-inch Mesopotamian limestone sculpture which sold for $57 million in 2007, still a record for any antiquity sold at auction

• Banksy’s Girl Without Balloon, the artwork that famously began to self-shred moments after the hammer fell, instantly transforming it into a live performance and global media sensation

Collectors’ Week will also be a destination for discovery and conversation, offering a series of talks and panel discussions - all free and open to the public - with leading voices from across art and luxury. The programme spans over a dozen sessions, from “Jewellery Is Art” with Christian and Yasmin Hemmerle, to “The Legacy of Picasso” with the artist’s granddaughter and art historian Diana Picasso, and “The Icon Behind the Birkin,” a conversation with Marisa Meltzer about her recent acclaimed biography of Jane Birkin.

At the same time, throughout the week-long exhibition, Sotheby’s specialists will host daily masterclasses on jewellery and handbags, offering visitors an in-depth look into the art of collecting. Through these sessions, attendees will gain a greater appreciation of craftsmanship and provenance, and even - perhaps - be inspired to embark on their own collecting journeys.

And for extra stardust, Damson Idris, star of this summer’s global blockbuster movie F1 and Amna Al Qubaisi, the first female racing driver from the United Arab Emirates to compete internationally in motorsport, headline Sotheby’s campaign video created to promote Collectors’ Week. The campaign video, shot in one day around some of Abu Dhabi’s most recognisable landmarks runs across social media channels, led by Sotheby’s platforms, supported by Abu Dhabi Retail’s and RM Sotheby’s until 6 December.

Jean-Luc Berrebi Sotheby’s board member focused on expanding collaboration with the UAE, commented: “Abu Dhabi represents a powerful convergence of visionary ambitions, limiteless opportunities, and cultural vibrancy. By expanding our footprint here, we’re strengthening long-standing relationships with preeminent partners and institutions and deepening the way we can meaningfully contribute to, and grow with, a region that is redefining global demand for art and luxury.”