Top 5 Masterpieces to Watch at Christie's Historic Inaugural Fine Art Auction in Abu Dhabi

Christie’s is hosting its very first fine art auction in Abu Dhabi, featuring over 70 works spanning six decades of modern and contemporary Middle Eastern art. Titled Mawasim : 20 Years of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art, the event takes place at the Abu Dhabi Edition hotel on November 1. This milestone marks two decades since Christie’s held its inaugural UAE auction in Dubai back in 2006. The sale showcases prominent artists from across the Arab world, Iran, and Turkey, with pieces sourced from prestigious institutions like Beirut’s Dalloul Collection and Sharjah’s Barjeel Art Foundation.

The auction arrives during a bustling season for the local art scene, closely preceding the Frieze art fair later in November and the opening of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi on December 11. Ridha Moumni, Christie’s Middle East and Africa chairman, previously noted the auction house's intention to establish a deeper presence in the city.

Here are five standout works to watch during the landmark sale:

Fahrelnissa Zeid's Composition, 1948-1949

Estimated between $500,000 and $700,000, Composition is a cornerstone of the sale, originating from a pivotal era in Fahrelnissa Zeid’s artistic development. Painted in 1948–49, it captures her transition into the kaleidoscopic abstraction that defined her international acclaim. The piece features interlocking blocks of blue, red, yellow, and orange separated by dark lines, reflecting her aerial perspectives of cities and landscapes. Notably, after her husband, Prince Zeid Al-Hussein, became Iraq’s ambassador to Britain, Zeid set up a studio at the Iraqi Embassy in London where this piece was proudly displayed.

Mahmoud Said's Portrait de Princesse Fadia, 1952

Carrying an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000, Mahmoud Said’s Portrait de Princesse Fadia possesses one of the most intimate provenances in the collection. The sitter is Princess Fadia, the youngest daughter of King Farouk I and Queen Farida of Egypt, and the artist was her great-uncle. Completed in 1952 just months before the fall of the Egyptian monarchy, the painting remained within the family, eventually accompanying Princess Fadia into exile.

Paul Guiragossian's Noces (Wedding), 1958-1959

Measuring nearly 2.4 metres wide, Noces is among the largest pieces by Paul Guiragossian ever brought to market. Valued between $300,000 and $500,000, the painting depicts a seated bride surrounded by musicians, dancers, and guests. A poignant personal touch includes a blind musician figure representing the artist's father. The work was originally acquired directly from Guiragossian by Lebanese architect and collector Farid Trad.

Ahmed Mater's Golden Hour, 2011

Ahmed Mater’s Golden Hour, estimated at $80,000 to $120,000, explores the dramatic transformation of Makkah through a monumental photograph from his Desert of Pharan project. The image frames the Kaaba and pilgrims performing tawaf amidst surrounding cranes and modern construction equipment, contrasting ancient religious rituals with the constant momentum of urban development.

Hassan Sharif's Press Conference No 2, 2008

Adding a satirical edge to the auction, Hassan Sharif’s Press Conference No 2 is valued between $50,000 and $70,000. Painted in 2008, the artwork portrays a distorted public figure with an open mouth and misaligned eyes, subverting the traditional gravity of political spectacle using everyday objects like spoons and ladles.