Jafri painting, auctioned for $62M at charity event, remains unpaid for and in legal limbo

UNICEF has revealed it has not received any funding promised from the $62 million 2021 charity sale of Sacha Jafri’s COVID-era 17,000-sq-foot The Journey of Humanity, despite the auction’s stated goal of benefiting children’s charities. The reported sale to André Abdoune, French “crypto billionaire” and entrepreneur, remains the subject of ongoing legal proceedings brought by Dubai Cares, which alleges the pledged funds were not paid. Jafri remains in possession of the artwork, for which Abdoune had pledged to build a museum in Dubai. While UNESCO confirmed receiving a $1.9 million donation from Dubai Cares in 2022, it said it could not verify any connection to the auction proceeds.