Sotheby’s Unveils $100 Million Coloured Diamond Exhibition in Abu Dhabi Featuring ‘The Mediterranean Blue’

Sotheby’s makes a resplendent return to Abu Dhabi with a kaleidoscopic celebration of the world’s rarest coloured diamonds.

In a fusion of rarity and radiance, Sotheby’s, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, has unveiled a shimmering symphony of $100 million worth of coloured diamonds — a display of such exquisite magnitude, it's never been seen before in the Middle East.

The crown jewel of this show-stopping collection? A 10.03-carat Fancy Vivid Blue diamond known as The Mediterranean Blue. With the subtle serenity of the sea and the hypnotic pull of something truly one-of-a-kind, this stone will make its market debut at Sotheby’s Geneva sale in May with an estimated value of $20 million.

This landmark exhibition, held at the architecturally striking Bassam Freiha Art Foundation on Saadiyat Island, marks Sotheby’s first public showing in the capital in over 15 years. It’s a cultural moment — and an unapologetic reminder of Abu Dhabi’s growing role as a global epicenter for luxury, creativity, and collecting.

“Bringing together treasures that have never before shared the same space is one of the great privileges of what we do,” says Katia Nounou Boueiz, Sotheby’s Deputy Chairman, Middle East. “This exhibition, in this city, is a true celebration.”

From luminous pinks to electrifying oranges, the line-up reads like a red carpet of gemstones: the world’s largest flawless diamond, the largest vivid orangey-pink ever graded, and the second-largest known red diamond. Each piece is a marvel of nature, artistry, and curation — diamonds that have traversed centuries and continents to land, momentarily, in Abu Dhabi.

“The Middle East is a powerful force in the global luxury world,” notes Quig Bruning, Sotheby’s Head of Jewels, “and there is something deeply poetic about unveiling such a collection here, where appreciation for craftsmanship runs deep.”

Running through April 10th, the exhibition is free and open to the public, offering guided tours to those eager to get up close and personal with these unparalleled marvels.

Beyond the dazzle, the event underscores the UAE’s larger ambition: to shape a future where art, culture, and luxury intersect. As Noora Al Foulathi of ADIO puts it, “This exhibition is more than a showcase — it’s a milestone in Abu Dhabi’s creative evolution.”

In a world increasingly captivated by rarity, sustainability, and timeless elegance, this exhibition offers a moment to pause, breathe, and marvel — at light, at colour, at creation.

Because after all, diamonds may be forever… but this kind of magic is fleeting.

Visit www.sothebys.com for more information

Cover picture: Inside Sotheby's Colored Diamond Showcase