The world-renowned auction house, Sotheby’s, is making a much-awaited return to Saudi Arabia, bringing an awe-inspiring collection of high-value regional and international works.
Under the theme “Origins II,” Sotheby’s will hold its second auction in the Kingdom on January 31, 2026, showcasing more than 70 masterpieces by prominent Saudi, Middle Eastern and international artists.
Located in the historic Diriyah city, home to At-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Origins II auction will hold a public exhibition from January 24-31 to display the items on sale.
In a captivating celebration of art and culture, the Sotheby’s Origin II auction will feature a variety of artworks appealing for new and seasoned collectors, providing an exceptional platform for selling museum-worthy and historically important examples of the finest artworks by key artists throughout art history.
The items on sale include Ancient Sculpture, 20th-Century Design and Prints, Middle Eastern, Modern and Contemporary, Latin American, and Modern and Contemporary South Asian, according to Arab News.
Just announced: Our second auction in Saudi Arabia, ‘Origins II’, is coming 31 January 2026.
Over 70 works by trailblazing Saudi artists and renowned international names will cross the auction block in historic Diriyah.
Discover more: https://t.co/qOrP1CenAx@VisitDiriyah pic.twitter.com/n3HmoiR8Wn
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) December 23, 2025
One of the auction’s key highlights is a rare work titled “Coffee Shop in Madina Road” by the late Saudi artist Safeya Binzagr, one of the Kingdom’s pioneering artists and the “spiritual mother” of contemporary local art.
Another item on sale is an untitled painting from a private collection in Bahrain by the modernist Mohammed Al-Saleem, a late Saudi artist famous for his “horizonism” style and who broke a world record with $1.1 million sale at Sotheby’s London in 2023.
The Origins II coincides with the opening of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, building on the massive success of the inaugural auction in February 2025.
On this occasion, the Sotheby’s head of sale and contemporary art specialist, Ashkan Baghestani, noted that the second auction reflects the company’s continued commitment to Saudi Arabia’s growing ecosystem.
