The 55th Watch and Jewellery Middle East Show opened in Sharjah, running through June 1, 2025, with India mounting a significant pavilion showcasing 11 companies as part of the region’s premier luxury accessories exhibition.
Organised by Expo Centre Sharjah with support from the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the biannual event features over 500 local and international exhibitors representing major global companies in luxury gold jewellery, timepieces, and precious gemstones.
India’s participation is coordinated by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), which established a dedicated India Pavilion to highlight the country’s design excellence and craftsmanship. According to GJEPC Chairman Kirit Bhansali, “The Watch and Jewellery Show Middle East in Sharjah is a key platform to highlight India’s design excellence and craftsmanship to a vital trade partner.
Our continued presence at the show through the India Pavilion reflects this market’s growing importance.” The UAE represents a vital trade partner, with gem and jewellery exports surging over 60 percent following the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Exports grew from $4.95 billion in fiscal year 2022 to $8.04 billion in fiscal year 2024, demonstrating the strategic importance of such partnerships.
The exhibition attracts over 1,800 high-profile designers, manufacturers, and industry professionals from countries including Russia, Mexico, Tanzania, Egypt, India, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Lebanon. Visitor turnout is projected to exceed 80,000, with the timing coinciding with the Eid Al Adha holiday, further enhancing its appeal among jewellery enthusiasts. Among the exhibition’s highlights is a record-breaking 108-meter diamond necklace presented by Amaar Jewels, designed to enter the Guinness World Records.
According to the World Gold Council, gold sales in the UAE totalled 23.4 tonnes valued at $1.8 billion in the first half of 2024, representing 17.3 percent of the Middle East’s total sales. These figures underscore the exhibition’s strategic role in advancing the regional gold and jewellery industry.
Spanning 30,000 square meters, the exhibition serves as a platform for deals, partnerships, and insights into design trends. Specialised programs and workshops run alongside the main exhibition, offering participants opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge about recent developments in the global jewellery industry.
The show represents the largest and longest-running jewelry exhibition in the UAE and broader region, having grown from a handful of exhibitors when first launched in 1993 to become an indispensable part of the regional jewellery industry calendar.
