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

Abu Dhabi is emerging as a significant market in the art world, according to Christie’s CEO Bonnie Brennan. The auction house plans to hold its inaugural fine art sale in the city on November 1, following Frieze’s first fair in November and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi’s opening on December 11. Brennan asserts that the market can accommodate multiple centers, stating, "The market can sustain two centres."

Mawasim: 20 Years of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art marks two decades since Christie’s first UAE auction, held in Dubai in 2006. The exhibition at the Abu Dhabi Edition hotel features 70 works spanning nine decades, including pieces from Sharjah’s Barjeel Art Foundation and Beirut’s Dalloul Collection.

Brennan envisions a calendar of exhibitions and private sales throughout the year, expanding the city's art scene. She also aims to incorporate more Middle Eastern art into other sales, exposing buyers to its diverse offerings. Among the represented artists in the upcoming Mawasim exhibition are Samia Halaby and Nabil Nahas.

Christie’s has recognized millennials and Gen-Z as crucial buyers, accounting for 47% of new clients in the first half of 2026. Brennan highlights how these younger collectors can discover art through their interests, which can evolve during their visit to Christie’s. Furthermore, the company is restructuring its premises in New York to display private-sale works and luxury objects alongside its painting exhibitions, drawing new clients to the auction house.

The auction house reported a 71% increase in auction sales for the first half of 2026, reaching $3.5 billion. Brennan attributes this growth to the confidence owners have in selling their collections. Christie’s is also looking to strengthen its relationship with potential collectors in Abu Dhabi, working with local museums and cultural institutions to build trust before their first bid.