Christie’s Abu Dhabi auction will take place on November 1, bringing more than 70 works by artists from the Middle East and North Africa to the capital. The sale, titled Mawasim: 20 Years of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art, will be held at The Abu Dhabi EDITION and marks two decades since Christie’s first UAE sale. The National reports on the auction and its works, with What’s On Abu Dhabi providing further details on the programme.
What will be offered at the Christie’s Abu Dhabi auction?
The lots span six decades and include work by Paul Guiragossian, Samia Halaby, Mohamed Melehi, Nabil Nahas, Marwan and Hassan Sharif. Christie’s says the selection will include Emirati work alongside pieces from across the wider region.
The sale includes five works from Sharjah’s Barjeel Art Foundation and eight from Beirut’s Dalloul Collection. Nadia Saikali’s Mandala Bleu Nuit, created in 1982, carries an estimate of $50,000, while Mohamed Melehi’s A30, from 1962, is estimated at $150,000. Estimates are supplied in US dollars; Christie’s has not published AED estimates in the available announcement.
A new Abu Dhabi date for the international auction calendar
The auction follows previews in New York from September 17 to 21, Paris from October 2 to 8 and London from October 8 to 15. Christie’s says future Abu Dhabi auctions will depend on the results of this edition and the company’s international calendar.
The Christie’s Abu Dhabi auction also arrives as the capital prepares for a larger autumn arts programme, including the first Frieze Abu Dhabi and the opening of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in December, according to What’s On.
When is Christie’s Abu Dhabi auction?
The Christie’s Abu Dhabi auction is scheduled for November 1, 2026, at The Abu Dhabi EDITION.
How many works will be offered?
More than 70 works by artists from the Middle East and North Africa are expected.
Will the auction include Emirati artists?
Yes. Christie’s says the selection includes Emirati artists, including work connected to Hassan Sharif’s influence on the UAE art scene.
