Christie's schedules first Abu Dhabi fine-art auction for November 1
The sale brings together more than 70 works by Middle Eastern and North African artists, marking 20 years since the auction house's first UAE event.
Christie's will hold its first fine-art auction in Abu Dhabi on November 1, 2026, assembling more than 70 works from artists across the Middle East and North Africa. The sale, titled Mawasim: 20 Years of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art, takes place at the Abu Dhabi Edition hotel, marking two decades since the auction house's inaugural UAE sale in Dubai in 2006.
Sale composition and featured works#
The auction features works by Paul Guiragossian, Samia Halaby, Mohamed Melehi, Nabil Nahas and Marwan, spanning more than six decades of regional art production. Pieces are drawn from Beirut's Dalloul Collection and Sharjah's Barjeel Art Foundation. Guiragossian's Noces (Wedding), painted in 1955, carries an estimate of $300,000 to $500,000 and comes from the collection of Farid Trad. The work was shown at Guiragossian's first major exhibition in Lebanon in 1959 and appeared most recently at Saleh Barakat Gallery in Beirut in 2023. Halaby's Yesterday, painted in 1978 and estimated at $200,000 to $300,000, was shown in Lasting Impressions: Samia Halaby at the Sharjah Art Museum during 2023-2024.
Artists and geographic scope#
Artists represented in the sale come from Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Palestine, Syria, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, with works drawn from different career stages. Hassan Sharif will feature alongside other Emirati artists, recognising Sharif's influence on the UAE's art scene across five decades. Women artists represented include Halaby, Inji Efflatoun and Nadia Saikali. Ridha Moumni, chairman of Christie's Middle East and Africa, stated that the auction house partnered with estates and living artists to bring unseen works and important career pieces to the market.
Timing and future editions#
The project has been in preparation for more than a year, with the decision to hold it in Abu Dhabi made before Frieze art fair announced its arrival in the city in November. Some artists represented in the auction will also feature at the fair. Future auctions in Abu Dhabi will depend on the results of this edition and decisions about Christie's international calendar, according to Moumni, who stated that the event is not a one-off and that the auction house intends to be more present and visible in the city. Dubai hosted Christie's inaugural UAE auction in 2006, and the Dubai office continues to serve as the company's Middle East base.
Museum opening and ticket pricing#
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is scheduled to open on December 11, 2026, on Saadiyat Island. General admission tickets are priced at AED 70, with complimentary entry for visitors below the age of 18, UAE students, and senior citizens aged 60 and above. The museum, designed by Frank Gehry, features 28 galleries spread across interconnected spaces built around a central atrium and highlighted by 10 sculptural cones. Outdoor exhibition areas expand the possibilities for displaying artworks beyond traditional gallery settings.
Sources2 sources across 2 domains
- thenationalnews.comThe NationalChristie's first Abu Dhabi auction date, location, featured artists, estimates, and Ridha Moumni statements
- travelandtourworld.comTravel and Tour WorldGuggenheim Abu Dhabi opening date, ticket pricing, gallery count, and Frank Gehry design details
Each source above carries the claim it supports. Links open the publisher's own page; their text is not reproduced here beyond what the claim requires, and their rights remain theirs.
Orient Brief is published by Arabian Media Network. Pieces are produced by the Policy Desk with AI-assisted synthesis of the cited sources and automated verification against the network's editorial policy. Every piece carries a desk rather than a reporter. Corrections are recorded on the piece and on the corrections page.
One question, the institutions that have published on it, and each position with the document and the date beneath it.