Michael Jackson and Princess Diana memorabilia heading to Abu Dhabi auction
Some of the world’s most recognisable pieces of celebrity history are coming to Abu Dhabi, with memorabilia linked to Michael Jackson, Princess Diana, Kurt Cobain, Bruce Lee, Madonna and other cultural icons set to go under the hammer this December.
Los Angeles-based Julien’s Auctions will stage its first-ever event in the Middle East at Rosewood Abu Dhabi on Al Maryah Island from December 5 to 10, with three major auctions accompanied by exhibitions, talks and collector events.
The 11 headline lots revealed so far are estimated at a combined Dh2.17 million to Dh3.86 million, and that figure is expected to rise significantly once the full catalogues are released.
Michael Jackson’s glove and ‘Thriller’ loafers come to Abu Dhabi
One of the centrepieces will be Michael Jackson: The Fashion Legacy Auction, described as the largest collection of the superstar’s stage costumes, accessories and video-worn clothing ever assembled for sale.
Among the most recognisable pieces is a crystal-covered glove Jackson wore for a 2002 Vibe magazine cover shoot.
The glove is expected to sell for between $40,000 and $60,000, approximately Dh147,000 to Dh220,000.
Also heading to auction are the loafers Jackson wore in the Thriller music video. Offered together with a personal letter to choreographer Michael Peters, they carry an estimate of $20,000 to $40,000.
Rare Michael Jackson tour jackets also included
The auction will feature two notable jackets connected to Jackson’s legendary live performances.
A buckled jacket designed by Michael Bush and Dennis Tompkins, Jackson’s longtime personal designers, is estimated at between $60,000 and $80,000.
The piece was signed by Jackson and donated to the T.J. Martell Foundation.
Another highlight is one of only six illuminated Thriller performance jackets created for Jackson’s Bad World Tour.
That jacket is expected to sell for between $30,000 and $50,000.
For collectors, the Abu Dhabi sale will offer a rare opportunity to acquire pieces directly linked to some of the defining moments of Jackson’s career.
Princess Diana’s gown could reach Dh1.47 million
Another major auction will be dedicated to Princess Diana, with Julien’s presenting what it describes as its largest Diana sale to date.
The most valuable item announced so far is a midnight-blue Catherine Walker gown worn by Diana at the 1995 CFDA Fashion Awards in New York.
She wore the dress while presenting an award to fashion editor Liz Tilberis.
The gown is expected to sell for between $200,000 and $400,000, or approximately Dh734,500 to Dh1.47 million.
Pieces connected to Diana’s humanitarian work
Other items tell a very different side of Diana’s story.
A pair of suede Selfridges loafers she wore while walking through a landmine field in Angola in 1997 will also be offered.
The shoes are expected to sell for between $20,000 and $30,000.
A Ralph Lauren shirt worn during Diana’s visit to landmine survivors in Bosnia that same year is estimated at between $10,000 and $20,000.
The pieces connect the auction not only to her status as a global fashion icon, but also to the humanitarian work that became central to the final years of her life.
Kurt Cobain, Bruce Lee and more pop culture history
A third auction, Pop Culture Legends, will expand beyond Jackson and Diana to include memorabilia connected to music, film, fashion and art.
One of the most valuable pieces is surprisingly linked to literature rather than Hollywood.
A guitar once owned by American author Mark Twain carries an estimate of $100,000 to $200,000, potentially reaching around Dh734,500.
A guitar played by Kurt Cobain is expected to sell for between $60,000 and $80,000, while one of his stage-worn jackets is estimated at $20,000 to $40,000.
Fans of martial arts cinema will also see the yellow nunchaku used by Bruce Lee in the 1978 film Game of Death, valued at between $30,000 and $50,000.
Items connected to Banksy, Amy Winehouse, Madonna, Eddie Van Halen and Sabrina Carpenter will also form part of the wider sale.
More than Dh3.8 million in highlights already announced
The full value of the Abu Dhabi auctions is still unknown.
Julien’s has so far revealed only 11 major lots, carrying combined estimates between $590,000 and $1.05 million, approximately Dh2.17 million to Dh3.86 million.
Once hundreds of additional items are revealed through the three complete catalogues, the total estimated value is expected to climb considerably.
Celebrity memorabilia can also regularly exceed initial expectations.
One of Michael Jackson’s jewelled gloves previously sold through Julien’s for $420,000, while a Princess Diana evening gown fetched $1.14 million in 2023.
Why Julien’s chose Abu Dhabi
The event represents an important expansion for Julien’s Auctions into the Middle East.
The auction house sees the region as home to a rapidly growing and increasingly diverse collector community interested in everything from Hollywood and music history to fashion and international popular culture.
There is also a direct connection between several of the headline names and the UAE.
Both Michael Jackson and Princess Diana visited the Emirates, contributing to their lasting popularity in the region.
Julien’s now hopes to establish Abu Dhabi as another international destination for high-profile cultural collecting.
Future Middle East sales could also expand into areas such as Bollywood memorabilia, reflecting the interests of collectors across the region.
More than an auction
The December event is being designed as a full Celebrity & Culture Week, rather than simply a series of sales.
Highlights from all three auctions will be displayed together in a museum-style exhibition at Rosewood Abu Dhabi, while collectors and visitors will also have access to talks, receptions and special events.
Bidders will be able to participate either in person or online.
For those who simply want to see the objects, selected highlights will also be shown earlier during Formula 1 week in a free public pop-up exhibition at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental.
Abu Dhabi strengthens its position in the global collecting world
The arrival of Julien’s comes as Abu Dhabi continues expanding its international art and collecting scene.
The auction week will take place shortly after the first Frieze Abu Dhabi in November and just before Guggenheim Abu Dhabi opens to the public on December 11.
Sotheby’s has also recently established a presence in the emirate through its Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week.
Now celebrity and entertainment memorabilia is joining the mix.
From Michael Jackson’s famous glove and Thriller shoes to Princess Diana’s fashion and humanitarian history, Abu Dhabi is preparing to host objects that have become part of global popular culture — with some expected to command prices well into the millions of dirhams.
