Christie’s brings first fine art auction to Abu Dhabi

Welcome back to AL-MONITOR Dubai.

This autumn, two of the world’s biggest auction houses — Christie’s and Sotheby’s — will each mark a significant milestone in their Middle East operations. Christie’s, the first auction house to open in the region in 2006, will celebrate 20 years in business with a landmark live auction in Abu Dhabi in November. Meanwhile, Sotheby’s is expanding its presence with the opening of a new showroom and salon in Dubai’s DIFC. Another exciting development was the announcement last week that the Dubai Film Festival will return in 2027 after a decadelong hiatus. And for those craving delicious Japanese, be sure to check out Noren, which recently opened in JLT and is already bustling.

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Happy reading,

Rebecca

P.S. Have feedback or tips on Dubai's culture scene? Send them my way at contactus@al-monitor.com.

1. Leading the week: Christie’s first-ever sale in Abu Dhabi

Paul Guiragossian. Noces. 1958-59. (Photo courtesy of Christie’s)

Christie’s will stage its first-ever fine art auction in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 1. Titled “MAWASIM: 20 Years of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art,” the sale will feature more than 70 works spanning six decades of art from the Middle East and North Africa.

The auction marks the 20th anniversary of the house’s inaugural sale, held at Jumeirah Emirates Towers on May 24, 2006. The landmark anniversary sale will feature works by renowned Arab artists, including Samia Halaby, Mohamed Melehi, Nabil Nahas, Paul Guiragossian and Marwan, alongside works from prominent collections of Arab art, including the Barjeel Art Foundation in Sharjah and the Dalloul Collection in Beirut.

From pioneering modernist movements to contemporary experimentation, the works trace artistic journeys from Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Palestine, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, highlighting the histories and cultural exchanges that have shaped the region’s artistic landscape.

“As Christie’s celebrates 20 years since its inaugural auction in the UAE, it is fitting that our first dedicated fine art auction in Abu Dhabi takes place this year in the capital to mark the occasion,” Meagan Kelly Horsman, managing director of Christie’s Middle East, told Al-Monitor.

“Twenty years ago saw the announcement of the Saadiyat Island project to the world, and we could not have picked a better moment to celebrate this deeply important chapter in Abu Dhabi’s story, alongside a season that sees the inaugural Frieze Abu Dhabi and the opening of the Guggenheim. It’s art history in the making!”

Horsman said the sale is led by Paul Guiragossian’s “Noces” (“Wedding”), 1958-59, estimated at $300,000-$500,000. “The rare and monumental work comes from the distinguished Farid Trad Collection and was exhibited at Guiragossian’s first major exhibition in Lebanon in 1959,” she added.

Date: Pre-sale exhibition on Oct. 28 - Nov. 1; Live auction on Nov. 1

Location: The Abu Dhabi EDITION hotel

Find more information here.

2. Word on the street: Noren

A selection of delectable Japanese dishes at the newly opened Noren in JLT. (Photo courtesy of Noren)

Just 10 days after opening, the dining room at Noren, a new Japanese restaurant in JLT, was packed — a welcome sight as the Iran war weighs on Dubai’s hospitality sector. The independent concept was created by industry veterans Ilir Caushi, formerly Zuma’s managing director, and executive chef Pawel Kazanowski, who spent more than 15 years helping shape the brand’s global success.

Rather than another ultra-polished Dubai eatery, the pair set out to create a bustling neighborhood restaurant where guests feel at home. Kazanowski greets diners on arrival, while the open kitchen puts the chefs at the center of the experience.

Top dishes to try include the thinly sliced chutoro with an addictive and refreshing jalapeño dressing, and the red miso-glazed bone marrow, served piping hot and meant to be spread generously on crispy black bread. Another highlight is the Aka Yuzu-Kosho Chilean Sea Bass, which is beautifully glazed on the outside, flaky on the inside and heightened by the yuzu-kosho seasoning.

Location: Pullman Dubai Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai

Find more information here.

3. Dubai diary

An exterior view of the new Sotheby’s Dubai. (Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s)

• Sotheby’s to open new gallery in Dubai 

Sotheby’s will mark a decade in the UAE with the opening of an expanded gallery and salon in Dubai in early October. The auction house’s original DIFC gallery has hosted works by Sandro Botticelli and Rembrandt van Rijn, as well as a 1932 Pablo Picasso portrait valued at $120 million ahead of its 2023 New York auction. The new space will feature a street-facing facade, floor-to-ceiling windows and a rotating display of rare cars, with bronze, antique brass and walnut nodding to Sotheby’s 280-year history.

Location: DIFC, Gate Village Building 10, Podium Level - Unit 3

Find more information here.

• Dubai Film Festival to return after decadelong break

The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), founded in 2004,  is officially returning for its 15th edition on Dec. 8, 2027, following a hiatus that began in 2017. Relaunched under the Dubai Media Council and the Dubai Films and Games Commission, the revived event will feature a special Middle Eastern focus, spotlighting Arab cinema, regional storytelling and nurturing a new generation of emerging filmmakers. In addition, the festival will provide a vital platform for directors, producers, actors and writers to connect with international audiences and global creative markets.

Date: Dec. 8, 2027

Location: To be announced

Find more information here.

‘May the Tree No Longer Burn When I Wake’ by Amir Khojasteh

In this exhibition, Amir Khojasteh presents his first body of work developed since leaving his home country of Iran earlier this year. During this period of transition, the Persian garden — a sanctuary of calm and beauty during a time of chaos — resonated deeply with him, particularly concerning ideas of departure and distance. 

Date: Sept. 23 - Nov. 5

Location: CARBON 12, Alserkal Avenue

Find more information here.