Christie's is preparing to hold its first fine-art auction in Abu Dhabi, bringing together around 70 works of modern and contemporary Middle Eastern art. The sale, titled "MAWASIM: 20 Years of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art," includes pieces by artists such as Fahrelnissa Zeid, Faisel Laibi Sahi, Mahmoud Saïd and Samia Halaby. Estimates range from $8,000 to $700,000.
Alongside the auction, the house will present three major works that are not for sale: Wassily Kandinsky's Betonte Ecken (1923), estimated at $60 million to $80 million; Mark Rothko's Untitled (1968), estimated at $10 million to $15 million; and Pablo Picasso's Tête de femme (1939), estimated at $12 million to $18 million. The works will be displayed at Abu Dhabi Edition hotel.
The auction arrives during a growing season of art events in the UAE capital, with an international art fair and the long-awaited opening of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi also scheduled for the coming weeks. Together, these initiatives are bringing regional and international art into closer conversation.
By combining a Middle Eastern-focused sale with a presentation of celebrated modern masters, Christie's adds a new platform to Abu Dhabi's cultural calendar. Such events may help broaden the region's role in the global art landscape and create new connections between artists, collectors and audiences.
