Abu Dhabi is gaining ground in the art market, says Christie’s CEO

Abu Dhabi is emerging as a significant player in the Middle Eastern art market, according to Christie's CEO Bonnie Brennan. The auction house aims to maintain a steady auction schedule in the city, beginning with a fine art sale on November 1. This marks the first such event in the UAE, following Frieze's inaugural fair in November and the opening of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in December. Brennan asserts that "the market can sustain two centers," emphasizing the presence of both London and Abu Dhabi in the art world.

Mawasim: 20 Years of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art is the latest exhibition to celebrate the city's growing art scene. Spanning nine decades and featuring 70 works, including pieces from Sharjah's Barjeel Art Foundation and Beirut's Dalloul Collection, the exhibition is scheduled to run at the Abu Dhabi Edition hotel. Brennan's plans extend beyond exhibitions, with the auction house seeking to host a more regular lineup of sales throughout the year.

In addition to bringing Middle Eastern art to other sales, Christie's intends to incorporate more pieces in their auctions. Among the featured artists in this selection are Samia Halaby and Nabil Nahas. Brennan acknowledges that collectors in the region are substantial buyers of Western art, which motivates Christie's to present a diverse array of works in the city.

The company is also investigating how younger buyers, including millennials and Gen-Z, discover their interest in collecting. These demographics accounted for 47% of Christie's new clients in the first half of 2026, with many exploring new genres and categories during their visits.

Christie's is expanding its facilities in New York to accommodate private-sale works and luxury objects alongside painting exhibitions. This change aims to facilitate the exploration of various categories for new collectors. In September, Christie's announced a dedicated pop-culture division, with annual auctions covering music and film memorabilia. The company aims to transform the initial purchase into a lifelong collecting habit by maintaining a broad and varied selection.

Auction sales for Christie's reached $3.5 billion in the first half of 2026, a 71% increase from the same period a year earlier. Brennan attributes this growth to the market's responsiveness to confident sellers, who unlock supply when they feel the timing is right. Strong results in late 2025 encouraged more owners to put their collections up for sale in the spring of 2026, including a Kandinsky piece being exhibited in Abu Dhabi before its New York auction.

The focus now lies on achieving successful pricing in the upcoming autumn auctions. Brennan emphasizes the need to build trust with buyers by offering competitive rates, as the market is well-informed and discerning.