Sotheby’s to auction $78 million of rare cars in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 5

Abu Dhabi is preparing to host one of the most important car events the region has ever seen, as RM Sotheby’s brings a collection of rare and highly valuable cars to the capital on December 5.

The auction, held at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort during Sotheby’s Collectors’ Week, will feature 32 exceptional cars with a combined value expected to exceed $78 million. For car collectors across the Middle East, this is an opportunity to access some of the most significant performance cars, race cars and supercars ever built.

RM Sotheby’s decision to debut in Abu Dhabi reflects the city’s growing influence in the global luxury and collector car market. With demand for investment-grade cars rising across the Gulf, this auction marks a defining moment for the region.

A world-first collection of McLaren racing cars

The headline offering is a world-first collaboration between Sotheby’s and McLaren Racing, known as the Triple Crown Project. It brings three major competition cars to auction before some of them have even been revealed to the public.

The most anticipated car is a 2026 McLaren Formula 1 Team car that will be raced by either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri during the 2026 Formula One season. The car is estimated at 10 to 20 million dollars and will be delivered in 2028. Until then, the buyer will receive a 2025 McLaren show car on lease, creating an immediate centrepiece for any private car collection.

The second racing car in the project is a 2027 McLaren United AS hypercar built for the FIA World Endurance Championship. Estimated at 6 to 8 million dollars, it offers collectors the rare chance to acquire a top-level endurance racing car at the beginning of its competitive life.

The third McLaren racing car is an Arrow McLaren INDYCAR, which will be driven by Pato O’Ward at the 110th Indianapolis 500 in May 2026. With an estimate of 500,000 to 700,000 dollars, this car represents a unique chance to own a real competition car from one of the most historic races in the world.

“There is no better time or place to do this than Abu Dhabi, during the most dynamic moment in the city’s cultural calendar,” said Josh Pullan, Global Head of Sotheby’s Luxury Division. “Our aim is not only to present world-class treasures, but to build lasting connections with collectors in the region.”

Each successful buyer will receive behind-the-scenes access to McLaren Racing, creating an immersive experience that extends far beyond the car itself.

Supercar icons: the McLaren F1 and Gordon Murray T.50

The auction will also bring two of the most important supercars ever created. The first is the 1994 McLaren F1, chassis 014, originally delivered to the Brunei Royal Family. The car has the High Downforce Kit fitted and is signed by both Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton. It is expected to achieve more than 21 million dollars and is being offered at auction within the GCC for the first time.

Alongside it is the 2025 Gordon Murray Automotive T.50, chassis 035, the 35th car in a limited production run of 100. With an estimated value above 5 million dollars, this car marks the first time a T.50 has ever appeared at auction. Known for its focus on lightweight engineering, a high-revving V12 engine and advanced aerodynamics, it is considered one of the most important modern supercars available today.

A historic car on display

In addition to the auction lots, RM Sotheby’s will display a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR racing sports car.

Only nine were ever built and it is regarded as one of the most significant cars in automotive history.

The car is on loan from the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart and belongs to the same family as the record-setting 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, which sold for 135 million euro in 2022.

Jean-Luc Berrebi, Sotheby’s board member, said the event reflects “a powerful convergence of visionary ambitions, limitless opportunities and cultural vibrancy”, adding that Sotheby’s expansion in Abu Dhabi is designed to “grow with a region that is redefining global demand for art and luxury”.

The RM Sotheby’s auction positions the UAE at the centre of the world’s collector car market, giving regional buyers access to cars that rarely appear publicly anywhere in the world.

Full details and the complete car catalogue are available here.