The Middle East Watch and Jewelry Exhibition concludes its 57th edition by attracting 96,000 visitors and 400 exhibitors.

Sharjah, June 15, 2017 – Sharjah Expo Center concluded yesterday evening the activities of the 57th edition of the Middle East Watch and Jewelery Exhibition, which was organized by the Center with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry over five days, achieving remarkable success.

The exhibition attracted more than 96,000 visitors, an increase of 6% compared to the previous session, which amounted to 91,000 visitors. 400 exhibitors from 19 countries from around the world participated in it, along with an elite group of leading designers, makers and international experts in the field of gold, diamonds, precious stones and luxury watches, on a total area of ​​30,000 square metres.

The exhibition included the latest collections and innovations in the world of gold and jewelry, the latest fashion lines and contemporary designs presented by participating local and international companies. Its exhibits varied between luxury diamond jewelry, high-end jewelry made of gold, platinum and silver, fashion jewelry, colored gemstones and pearls. The exhibition also kept pace with the latest global trends by allocating spaces for laboratory-grown diamonds and precious metals, in addition to the latest versions of luxury watches and jewelry manufacturing and packaging equipment.

The exhibition provided gold, jewelry and watch merchants with an ideal opportunity to conclude deals, build business partnerships, and learn about the latest production and supply lines from major international companies and manufacturers, while giving consumers the opportunity to purchase exclusive pieces at competitive prices directly from the source, which strengthened its position as an integrated destination that meets the aspirations of merchants and consumers in this vital sector.

The exhibition witnessed strong competition between gold and jewelry trading companies through the introduction of various offers that included charging the value-added tax on some jewelry products, and discounts ranging between 60% and 75% on diamond jewelry, in addition to discounts on manufacturing fees for gold jewelry, aimed at enhancing the demand for purchases and stimulating gift sales ahead of the holiday season, in light of the noticeable recovery and increase in demand that the gold and jewelry markets in the country are witnessing.

The exhibition was distinguished by wide international participation from China, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, in addition to 8 Arab countries that included the Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, Qatar, Lebanon, and Yemen.

Through five major international pavilions representing Italy, India, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand, the exhibition provided an exceptional opportunity for visitors to learn about diverse design cultures that combined European sophistication and Asian luxury. The international pavilions showcased the latest innovations and exclusive collections amidst remarkable competition to present rare collections and unique pieces that were introduced for the first time in the region’s markets, confirming the event’s status as a semi-annual strategic platform that brings together manufacturers, importers and retailers with a segment of buyers that is considered the most in demand in the Gulf market. It is known for its high purchasing power in the gold, jewelry and luxury watches sector.

The official Italian pavilion enjoyed a remarkable presence this year, as the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) led the largest pavilion at the exhibition, which included 34 specialized companies that represented the most prominent models of Italian excellence in goldsmithing, fine jewelry, and craft silverware, in a participation that was the culmination of prosperous commercial relations between the two countries.

Italian companies and brands displayed jewelry handcrafted in Florence from 18-karat gold and natural diamonds, in addition to a collection that included precious stones, pearls and coral, reflecting the quality of Italian craftsmanship, which combines classic character and modern style.

Indian companies recorded a remarkable presence that reflected the depth of trade relations and growing confidence in the Middle East Watch and Jewelry Exhibition, which is a major gateway to the Middle East markets. The exhibits of participating Indian companies were distinguished by the brilliance of rare gemstones and elaborate designs, and they displayed a variety of jewelry studded with natural diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and rare gemstones, as well as 18-karat gold jewelry studded with colored diamonds.

The Hong Kong Pavilion attracted attention by combining long experience with design innovations that keep pace with global economic trends, through a collection that combined coral, turquoise, 18-carat gold and natural diamonds in designs that reflected a combination of luxury and high craftsmanship.

During its participation in the event, the “Emirates Jewelers” platform witnessed the launch of the first Emirati stone to enter the world of jewelry under the title “Spirit of the Emirates,” which is a natural red jasper stone extracted from the Al-Siji region in the Emirate of Fujairah, in cooperation with the Fujairah Natural Resources Foundation, to constitute a milestone in the national jewelry industry.

The platform recorded the participation of 20 male and female designers from various emirates of the country, including 7 female designers for the first time, in addition to the inspiring participation of people of determination through the “Shufa” design, which won the admiration of visitors, while the platform led a remarkable transformation with a number of its members moving to the supply stage, as one of the designers became the first Emirati supplier of gemstones to move between international mines and museums to provide authentic stones for Emirati designers.

His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Center Sharjah, confirmed that the 57th edition embodied the features of a strategic vision that the Center is working to consolidate, which is based on transforming the exhibition from a seasonal trade event into an integrated economic platform that contributes to drawing the map of gold and jewelry trade in the region, adding that attracting major official pavilions and launching qualitative national innovations at the exhibition reflects the transition to a new phase aimed at building added industrial value and empowering local supply chains, in a way that supports the state’s directions in localizing creative industries and enhancing the sector’s competitiveness on a global level.

The exhibitors praised the organizational level of the exhibition, stressing that it represented an exceptional window to showcase their unique innovations and the latest international fashion trends in the luxury watch sector and the jewelry industry studded with diamonds, pearls and precious stones. They appreciated the continuous support provided by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry to make the event a success and create the appropriate atmosphere for exhibitors. They pointed out that the interest was reflected positively in expanding the scope of their business, and opened promising horizons for them to consolidate their presence and build sustainable partnerships within Region markets.

• For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Twitter