History made in Abu Dhabi with $10M Pagani Zonda, Aston Martin One-77 and McLaren F1 cars up for auction
Published on Sep 08, 2025 at 8:58 AM (UTC+4)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Sep 08, 2025 at 8:42 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
History is being made in Abu Dhabi as McLaren F1 cars, a $10 million Pagani Zonda, and rare diamonds head to the auction block.
Sotheby’s is planting its flag in the UAE capital with its first-ever sale in the region.
It’s not just an auction – it’s a collision of supercars and fine jewelry built to tempt the world’s wealthiest.
And with Saadiyat Island as the stage, the whole thing doubles as a statement about Abu Dhabi’s rising luxury power.
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Pagani Zonda headlines the ultimate auction lineup
Sotheby’s has joined forces with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office to launch its very first auction in the city.
And it’s not holding back.
The event takes over The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort from December 2-5 – perfectly timed with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend.
On the automotive side, the star is a 2017 Pagani Zonda 760 Riviera, expected to hammer down at $9.5-10.5 million.
Alongside it sits a rare 2010 Aston Martin One-77, valued between $1.3 and $1.6 million.
That’s already an auction line-up fit for headlines, but McLaren decided to add some future icons, too: a 2026 Formula 1 car, a 2027 United Autosport racer, and a 2026 Arrow IndyCar, all going under the hammer.
Then there are the jewels.
The crown piece is the ‘Desert Rose’ – a 31.86-carat Fancy Vivid Orange-Pink diamond. The largest of its kind ever graded.
Estimated between $5 and $7 million, it’s part of a staggering $20 million single-owner collection of watches and jewelry.
The mix of cars, diamonds, and rare watches turns this into more than an auction – it’s a spectacle designed to grab the attention of the world’s wealthiest collectors.
Why Abu Dhabi wants the world’s rarest cars
The auction slots into Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week, running December 2-5.
It’s a stacked calendar: the final Formula 1 race of the season, the Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit, Abu Dhabi Finance Week, and Bitcoin MENA.
With so many high-profile events running at once, the city will already be filled with global collectors.
And Sotheby’s is giving them a reason to bid.
This moment is bigger than just one auction.
It underlines Abu Dhabi’s push to become a global hub of art, affluence, and auctions.
By showcasing $10 million hypercars alongside rare diamonds, Abu Dhabi is signaling how seriously it takes its place in the luxury and art world.
When a Pagani Zonda and a pink diamond share the same spotlight, you know history’s being made.
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Molly Davidson is a Junior Content Writer at Supercar Blondie. Based in Melbourne, she holds a double Bachelor’s degree in Arts/Law from Swinburne University and a Master’s of Writing and Publishing from RMIT. Molly has contributed to a range of magazines and journals, developing a strong interest in lifestyle and car news content. When she’s not writing, she’s spending quality time with her rescue English staffy, Boof.
