The 10 Most Expensive Artworks by Arab Artists Sold At Auction

Record-breaking art from the region

When it comes to record-breaking art sales, we usually associate these with the masters from western art history, but the Arab world has made a pretty big dent in the art market too. There are a number of works that have passed $1 million dollars under the hammer, and the sales numbers are only set to continue rising. Keep reading for a look at the 10 most expensive artworks to be sold at auction by Arab artists to date.

Break of the Atom and Vegetal Life (1962) by Fahrelnissa Zeid ($2.741 million)

Fahrelnissa Zeid was a Turkish artist who gained the title "princess" after marrying Prince Zeid bin Hussein, a member of the Hashemite royal family of Iraq. She became a prominent artist, having exhibited worldwide, including the Tate Modern in London and Centre Pompidou in Paris. Known for mixing Byzantine and Islamic art with abstract and impressionist influences, this huge piece sold for $2.741 million at Christie’s Dubai in 2013.

The Whirling Dervishes (1962) by Mahmoud Saïd ($2.546 Million)

One of Egypt’s most famed artists, Mahmoud Saïd was also a judge, leaving the legal profession to become a full time artist in his 50s. The oil painting shows six Mawlawi dervishes and was estimated to sell for between $300,000 and $400,000. However, Saïd more than doubled that when this painting sold for $2.546 million at an auction at Christie’s Dubai in 2010.

Icons of the Nile (1995-2015) by Chant Avedissian ($1.56 million)

Egyptian Armenian artist Chant Avedissian is famous for his portraits of the stars of Egypt including the beloved Um Kulthum and the first president Gamal Abdel Nasser, both of whom are included in this set of 25 colourful portraits. The combined piece sold at Sotheby’s London for $1.56 million in 2021.

Sarajevo (1992) by Omar El-Nagdi ($1.14 million)

This piece by Omar El-Nagdi depicts the horrors of war, reflecting the Serbo-Croatian-Bosnian conflict that occurred between 1990 and 1994, particularly the ethnic cleansing of Muslim Bosniaks in Eastern Bosnia. The work is a triptych in three parts and has been likened to Picasso's iconic painting of Guernica. It sold at Christie’s Dubai for $1.14 million in 2016.

Untitled (1986) by Mohammed Al Saleem ($1.1 million)

Mohammed Al Saleem is credited for his great contributions to the evolution of the Saudi art scene, and is famous for fusing traditional elements of Saudi life with modernist abstraction. This painting is said to have been inspired by the Riyadh skyline and sold at Sotheby’s London for $1.1 million in 2023.

Vue de la plage a Cassata en Grèce (1964) by Mahmoud Saïd ($1.09 million)

The only artist to appear in this list twice, Mahmoud Saïd painted this just a few months before his death at the age of 67. This particular work blends Egyptian influences with the techniques of European Old Master paintings. It sold at Christie’s London for $1.09 million in 2024.

Construction of the Suez Canal (1965) by Abdul Hadi El-Gazzar ($1.02 million)

This painting depicts a pivotal yet controversial part of Egyptian history. Abdul Hadi-Al Gazzar is considered one of the most important painters of modern Egyptian art history. He was a member of the Contemporary Art Group and was known for focusing on Egyptian identity while blending it with social commentary. The work sold at Christie’s Dubai for $1.02 million in 2014.

Baghdad 1 (2008) by Ahmed Al Soudani ($943,000)

Iraqi artist Ahmed Al Soudani was educated in Syria, before claiming asylum in New York. This vibrant painting is one of the few works by Al Soudani that has a title and recalls his family and feelings towards Baghdad. It sold at Christie’s London for $943,000 in 2011.

Then What?? (1965) by Louay Kayyali ($900,000)

Syrian artist Louay Kayyali’s Then What?? is the most recent work to be sold on our list. The painting is said to both depict the torment and anguish of displaced people, while also containing a sense of premonition. Kayyali is particularly known for his concern with the human condition, particularly the plight of displaced people. It sold at Sotheby’s Diriyah in 2025 for $900,000.

Poem (2013) by Saloua Raouda Choucair ($889,271)

The only sculpture on our list, Saloua Raouda Choucair’s Poem was conceived in 1963 and cast in bronze as an edition of three sculptures in 2013. The work is part of a series of sculptures called Poems or Kasa-id, which the Lebanese artist worked on between 1963 and 1968. Throughout the series she explored ideas of geometry, proportionality, rhythm and repetition as they occur in nature. It sold at Sotheby’s London in 2023 for $889,271.

So, what can we take away from this list? Interestingly, most of these works were sold in London, with the rest being sold in Dubai and Diriyah. The two most expensive works by Fahrelnissa Zeid and Mahmoud Said were sold over a decade ago in 2013 and 2010. That said, Louay Kayyali reached $900,000 in Diriyah in early 2025. Half of the works were sold by Egyptian artists, with the rest coming from Turkish-Iraqi, Saudi, Syrian and Lebanese artists.