Watch and Jewellery Middle East opens with over 500 exhibitors

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the 51st edition of the Watch and Jewellery Middle East (WJME) Show, was inaugurated on Wednesday.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Salem Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, witnessed the launch of the 51st edition of the Watch & Jewellery Middle East Show, which will run until 12th March at the Expo Centre Sharjah.

The largest event of its kind on the agenda of commercial exhibitions specialised in jewellery in the UAE and the region, and is organised by the Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, WJME boasts the participation of over 500 eminent international jewellery and gold designers and watchmakers from 20 countries from across the world, as well as hundreds of local and international brands.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Salem Bin Sultan Al Qasimi toured the pavilions of the exhibition and met a number of exhibitors and officials of the Emirati companies and the participating international companies, and listened to an explanation about their modern products and designs through which they aim to enhance their presence in the markets of the region, and the most recent comprehensive solutions and innovative technologies they offer in the gold and jewellery industry.

He was also briefed about the latest varieties of golden artefacts and innovations in the field of watches, traditional and contemporary designs in the world of jewellery, diamonds and precious stones, before he stopped at the platform of Emirati designers and reviewed their innovative collections and their modern and heritage designs of gold and jewellery.

The exhibition showcases one of the largest global gatherings of companies, traders, and local and international players specialised in designing and manufacturing gold and jewellery, with this year’s edition witnessing for the first time various participations from South Korea, Russia and Switzerland, not to mention an elite of the most prominent local, regional and international companies form Bahrain, China, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States of America. The event boasts national pavilions of a number of leading countries in the jewellery industry, including India with more than 60 companies, Italy with 35 companies, and Hong Kong with 30 companies.

The event, which stretches over a total area of 30,000 square metres, is celebrated with many distinguished events and surprises, providing for its visitors the opportunity to win valuable prizes to add to their distinguished journey in exploring the most luxurious exclusive designs of gold, diamonds, latest products and fashion lines of jewellery, precious stones, pearls, and luxury watches.

The event also sees the organisation of a set of programmes, workshops and activities specialised in the world of gold and jewellery industry, which will provide participants the opportunity to develop their skills and work and increase their acquaintances about the latest developments of this industry at the global level, and see the latest devices, technologies and equipment used in jewellery design.

Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI and ECS pointed out that the WJME Show has become a global gathering for major companies and brands from all over the world, and succeeded in establishing itself as one of the largest gold and jewellery exhibitions in the Middle East and North Africa.

Mr. Al-Owais added that the exhibition’s 51st edition will be a distinguished one in which the event will go on making achievements and providing a unique global experience. He stressed that SCCI continues to support the owners of small and medium enterprises and the young Emirati talents who have passion for jewellery designing through the launch of the UAE Jewellers and City Story platforms, which provide Emirati designers with an important marketing opportunity to exhibit their production and creative designs, learn from other participants’ experiences, and gain more experience and knowledge to develop their businesses.

HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of ECS affirmed that ECS was ready to receive more than 60,000 visitors to the exhibition, which stands out for being organised biannually, reflecting its importance as a regional platform that allows international companies and brands to achieve successes in foraying local and regional markets.

He highlighted the increase in participants in the 51 edition of the event and its ability to attract new international participants and how that will ensure the availability of a wide range of state-of-the-art collections of luxury jewellery and unique watches.