How to Bid

Bidding at AATEEQ takes a few minutes to set up, once. After that, you can bid on any auction we hold. Here is the whole process, in plain language.

1. Explore the pieces open for bidding

Every lot currently accepting bids is on our Auctions page, with its current bid and its closing time. Recently closed auctions and their results are on Past Auctions.

2. Read the item details

Each listing tells you what we know: condition, dimensions, materials, maker and date where these can be established, and any restoration. Where a piece carries a hallmark or a maker's mark, we photograph it and show it on the listing. If something is unclear, ask us before you bid, not after — bids cannot be retracted.

3. Sign in to your account

You need an AATEEQ account with a valid name and email address, and you must be at least 18 years old. Creating one takes a moment.

4. Verify your payment method

Before your first bid, we verify that you have a working payment method. This is a one-time, non-refundable charge of AED 2. It is not a deposit and it is not held against your bid — it simply confirms the card is real and activates your bidding access across every auction we run, now and in future. You will not be asked to do it again.

This step is why our auctions stay clean: it keeps out bids that were never going to be paid.

5. Place your bid

You can place a direct bid at the current increment, or set an automatic (proxy) maximum and let the system bid on your behalf up to that limit. With a proxy bid you only ever pay one increment above the next highest bidder, up to your maximum.
The minimum increment is set per item and shown on the listing.
Every bid is a binding offer to purchase and cannot be withdrawn.
Other bidders see you only by your public bidding username, never your real name.

6. Follow the auction to its close

Each lot closes at the exact time shown on its listing. Closing times are fixed and are not extended, so place your bids in good time rather than in the last seconds. The final hours are usually where an auction moves most — if there is a piece you are watching, set yourself a reminder and come back to it before it closes.

7. If you win

We notify you and send you a secure checkout link. Payment is due in full within 24 hours of the auction ending. Once payment clears and your details are verified, the sale is confirmed and the piece is yours.

Until then a result is provisional: a winning bid becomes a completed sale only after verification and payment. If payment is not made in time, we may offer the piece to the next highest bidder or relist it.

A note on reserve prices

Some pieces carry a confidential reserve — a minimum we have agreed with the consignor. The listing shows only whether the reserve has been met, never the figure itself. If bidding closes below it, we are not obliged to sell, though we may choose to accept the highest bid.

Delivery

Won pieces ship under our standard Shipping Policy. Within the UAE, shipping is free on orders of AED 500 and above. Our auctions are set up for UAE delivery by default — if you are bidding from outside the UAE, please contact us before you bid and we will arrange delivery and confirm any additional cost with you first.

Every piece is guaranteed

Auction lots carry the same authenticity guarantee as anything bought directly from our store. Read how we verify each piece on our Authentication Process page.