- ARAB NEWS
- 08 May 2024
Since 1975
RM Sotheby’s, a global company in collector car auctions, hosted an event on Wednesday to mark the company’s launch in the Middle East, catering to the the local automotive scene and culture in the region.
The inauguration was celebrated with an exclusive launch party, which took place at Sotheby’s Dubai gallery in the DIFC and was attended by a mix of automotive enthusiasts, art and watch collectors, event organizers and industry professionals.
The event gave guests a chance to understand RM Sotheby’s mission in the region. A 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta by Scaglietti was flown in, to be placed on display, giving guests a first look at the upcoming auction at Villa Erba during the world renowned Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the shore of Lake Como, Italy, on May 20.
A selection of vintage offerings were on display the event, including motorcycle helmets and jackets from popular racecar drivers.
A senior consultant at RM Sotheby’s Ghita Mejdi said that the Middle East has potential to become a hub for the automotive scene.
“With over 40 years of experience in the global car collector market, we are excited to bring our expertise and passion to the Middle East and look forward to working with our partners to contribute to the automotive culture and bring our clients to experience a whole new level of belonging to our community,” she said.
The company’s chairman Peter Wallman said: “We are delighted to have launched our business into the Middle East and Africa, as we fully recognize the passion that the region has for beautiful motor cars and what an outstanding opportunity it is for our business to serve those enthusiasts and collectors.”
He added that RM Sotheby’s track record of selling some of the most significant cars in the world gives it a good position to help collectors in the Middle East secure their “dream vehicles.”
The chairman explained that the collector’s car community is “largely about shared experiences.” He added that he believes RM Sotheby’s brings a “level of automotive expertise and global reach” to the market.
RM Sotheby’s has sold some of the most significant cars in the world, including a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, which sold for a record-breaking EUR 135 million in 2022.
