The collector car market in the Middle East has reached new heights. RM Sotheby’s 2025 Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week auction, held on December 5, 2025, at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, has officially become the most successful auction in the region’s history.
With bidders participating from 45 countries, the event realized a staggering $85,064,125 in total sales. The auction was the centerpiece of a four-day celebration of luxury, organized in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, cementing the emirate’s status as a rising global hub for high-end collecting.
Crown Jewel: 1994 McLaren F1
The undisputed star of the night was a 1994 McLaren F1, which commanded a final price of $25,317,500.
- History: Originally the 14th of just 64 road cars produced, this chassis was delivered new to the Brunei Royal Family in Titanium Yellow.
- Specification: It underwent a comprehensive factory update in 2007, receiving the coveted High-Downforce Kit, an LM-spec interior, and a refinish in Ibis White.
New Age for Race Car Sales
In a historic first for the auction world, McLaren Racing offered current and future competition chassis before they had even turned a wheel in anger.
- F1 History Made: The 2026 McLaren Formula 1 Team MCL40A sold for $11,480,000 , becoming the first F1 car ever auctioned prior to its racing season. The winning bidder secured the choice between a chassis assigned to Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri.
- Triple Crown Collection: The MCL40A was part of a broader “Triple Crown” offering, which also included a 2027 McLaren United AS WEC Hypercar ($7.6M) and a 2026 IndyCar chassis ($848k).
Hypercar Heavyweights
The auction also marked the first public sale of a 2025 Gordon Murray Automotive T.50. The spiritual successor to the F1, this delivery-mileage example (217 km) set a new model benchmark at $5,630,000.
Other notable hypercar results included the one-of-one 2006 Pagani Zonda Riviera, a UNICO Programme rebuild featuring 760-series upgrades, which hammered for $10,130,000. On the heritage side, a 1990 Ferrari F40 formerly owned by Formula One legend Alain Prost realized $3.89 million.
Next Up for RM Sotheby's
While the Abu Dhabi sale was certainly an exciting send-off to 2025, the collector and classic car world waits for no one. RM Sotheby’s is hard at work prepping for their next sale in Arizona, set to happen on January 23, 2026.