RM Sotheby’s has rewritten the history of collector car auctions in the Middle East with the inaugural Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week sale, achieving an extraordinary total of $85,064,125. Held on 5 December at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, the auction attracted bidders from 45 countries, firmly positioning Abu Dhabi as a rising global capital for collecting, luxury, and automotive culture.
The landmark result was the culmination of a four-day programme that extended far beyond the auction room. Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week brought together masterclasses, exhibitions, panel discussions, and curated experiences, transforming the emirate into a living showcase of connoisseurship. Developed in collaboration with Sotheby’s and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, the event demonstrated a clear ambition: to place Abu Dhabi at the forefront of the international collecting calendar.
The undisputed star of the sale was a 1994 McLaren F1, which achieved $25,317,500, making it the most expensive example of the model ever sold at auction. Chassis number 014 of just 64 road cars, the McLaren had been originally delivered to the Brunei Royal Family and later comprehensively updated by McLaren with the coveted High-Downforce Kit, LM-specification interior, and a refinish in Ibis White. Its result underscored the enduring supremacy of the McLaren F1 as the most revered road car of the modern era.
Another defining moment came with the McLaren Triple Crown offering, a historic presentation of three yet-to-be-built competition cars spanning Formula One, Le Mans, and IndyCar. Leading the trio was the 2026 McLaren Formula 1 Team MCL40A, which sold for $11,480,000, becoming the first Formula One car ever auctioned before being raced. The buyer will have the unprecedented privilege of seeing their chosen chassis—driven by either Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris—compete in the upcoming Formula One season.
Modern hypercars and bespoke creations further reinforced the sale’s depth and global appeal. A unique 2006 Pagani Zonda Riviera, rebuilt through the Pagani UNICO programme with dramatic aerodynamic enhancements, achieved $10,130,000, securing its place among the evening’s top results. Close behind, the 2027 McLaren United AS WEC Hypercar Team sold for $7,598,750, reflecting growing collector interest in factory-backed endurance racing programmes.
The auction also marked several notable milestones. A 2025 Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 appeared at public auction for the first time, with the as-new, 217-kilometre example selling for $5,630,000 and setting a new benchmark for the model. Ferrari collectors were equally active, with a 1990 Ferrari F40 formerly owned by Alain Prost, a LaFerrari, and a Monza SP2 all achieving strong prices that highlighted continued demand for Maranello’s icons.
With its record-breaking total and unprecedented offerings, RM Sotheby’s inaugural Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week has established a new reference point for the region. More than an auction, it was a statement of intent—signalling Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a serious, sophisticated hub for global collectors, where automotive history, modern innovation, and luxury culture now converge with confidence.
