Just outside Riyadh lies the town of Diriyah — the original home of the Saudi Royal family, and capital of the first Saudi Dynasty in the late 18th century. The ancient town, comprised mostly of mud-brick ruins, was declared a UNESCO Heritage Site in 2010, and its storied past makes a fitting location for the first- ever Sotheby’s international auction in the Kingdom, taking place on 8 February 2025.
Dubbed the birthplace of Saudi, Diriyah was inaugurated less than two decades before Sotheby’s was established in 1744, and this partnership between the prestigious fine arts firm and historic cultural site follows Sotheby’s official incorporation in the Kingdom at the end of 2023. Titled Origins, the two-part evening auction will showcase pieces by pioneering Saudi creatives and international artists, as well as luxury jewellery, watches, handbags, cars and sports memorabilia. Ashkan Baghestani, head of Contemporary Day Sale and Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s New York and Middle East, tells MOJEH that they have confirmed a commissioned, one-of-a-kind Cartier Crash — one of the most coveted collectible watches of the moment. “We will be bringing game- worn pieces by the top world ranking athletes, including Michael Jordan and Cristiano Ronaldo, all the way through to Hermès handbags,” he adds.
In the week leading up to the auction, the pieces will be exhibited to the public in the ancestral heart of the Kingdom — a “remarkable backdrop with a vibrant atmosphere,” says Yasmeen Gailani, Sotheby’s client liaison for the MENA region. Traditional mud brick architecture sits alongside gardens and palm groves, and the town features the restored Al-Zawihra Mosque as well as Diriyah Museum, which was once a palace. “Located just 20 minutes away from the city, it’s akin to entering an oasis where you are immersed in an entirely different world — something that taps into the Sotheby’s ethos too,” says Yasmeen.
Coinciding with the auction, Sotheby’s will open its office in Riyadh’s Al Faisaliah tower — the country’s first skyscraper. This series of collaborations cements the fine arts company’s presence in the Kingdom, after its support of Saudi’s Contemporary Art Biennale in 2022 and the inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah in 2023, as well as the 2024 Diriyah Biennale Foundation. And, earlier this year, Sotheby’s International Realty announced its plans to broker sales for nine luxury Ritz-Carlton residences in Diriyah. “The history of a place like Diriyah encapsulates the legacy of culture that we want to be a part of,” says Yasmeen. “Its merging of the past, present and future will also provide the perfect window into the country for those of our clients who will be visiting for the first time.”
Originally published in the December/January 2024 issue of MOJEH Magazine. Subscribe here
