Christie’s London achieved remarkable results at its Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art auction on November 6, with total sales reaching £4.1 million (about $5.2 million). The auction recorded a 93 percent sell-through rate by value and 85 percent by lot, underscoring a robust appetite for modern Arab and regional art. Notably, 38 percent of buyers were new to Christie’s, and 21 percent were millennials, signaling a generational shift in collecting patterns.
Of the 39 lots presented, 21 were from the Dalloul Art Foundation (DAF) — a segment of the globally celebrated collection built by the late Ramzi Dalloul and Saeda El Husseini Dalloul. Over five decades, the couple amassed nearly 3,000 works, forming one of the world’s most comprehensive archives of Arab modern and contemporary art. Four of the eight new artist records were achieved by works from this foundation, reinforcing its influence in shaping the global visibility of Middle Eastern artists.
The evening’s top lot was Saloua Raouda Choucair’s “Poem” (1966–68), which fetched £393,700 ($500,000) — more than triple its high estimate — setting a new world record for the pioneering Lebanese modernist. Another standout came from Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour, whose Untitled (2014) sold for £323,850 ($411,000), beating its high estimate by 80 percent after an intense four-minute bidding battle.
More than half of the artworks — 56 percent — exceeded their pre-sale estimates. Among them were Kamal Boullata’s “Nocturne I” (2001), which sold for £165,100 ($210,000), or 230 percent above its estimate, and Helen Khal’s 1985 untitled painting, which brought in £95,250 ($121,000) — 138 percent above expectations.
In total, the sale set eight world auction records, marking a milestone moment for regional artists. Record-breakers included Kamal Boullata, Mona Saudi, Sliman Mansour, Ammar Farhat, Saïd El-Adawi, Saloua Raouda Choucair, Fahad Al-Hajailan, and Laila Shawa. Analysts say these results reflect a broader correction in the market, as Middle Eastern and North African artists, long undervalued on the global stage, gain overdue recognition and international demand.
The auction’s demographic profile also pointed to a shift in the art world’s center of gravity. With over 20 percent of buyers under 40, younger collectors are increasingly drawn to the region’s abstract and conceptual traditions — artworks that blend political history, identity, and form.
“This sale highlighted the extraordinary depth and vitality of modern and contemporary Middle Eastern art,” said Ridha Moumni, Chairman of Christie’s Middle East and Africa, and specialist Marie-Claire Thijsen, in a joint statement. “With over 20 percent of buyers being millennials, the legacy of these artists is clearly resonating with a new generation.”
The strong showing not only cements Christie’s position as a leading platform for Middle Eastern art but also reflects a broader shift in the global art market — one increasingly attuned to voices, visions, and narratives emerging from the Arab world.
