MidEast Watch and Jewellery Show begins at Expo Centre Sharjah

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Obaid Al Shamsi, Second Vice Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Mr. Saif Al Midfa, Director General of Expo Centre Sharjah, and officials of various government departments, and members of the diplomatic corps and trade associations.

The MidEast Watch and Jewellery Show, a five-day gala affair, is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. It is an initiative of Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and the World Gold Council (WGC).

The current edition is hosting more than 350 master jewellers from Bahrain, Hong Kong - China, India, Italy, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Turkey and the UAE.

Among the major exhibitors are UAE-based Salem Al Shuebi, Al Anwaar, Damas, Dhamani, Shattaf Jewellers, Jovial Watches, Amwaj, Thailand-based Gems Beam, Kunming Gems, Su Raj Inter Gold, India-based Dialmaz, Durga Gems, Shreya Gems & Jewels, and Singapore-based Taka Jewellery, and Royal King.

Displays at the Show include diamonds, precious stones, loose pearls, gold and diamond jewellery, diamond and pearl sets, and watches.

"The MidEast Watch and Jewellery Show is considered to be an ideal platform by some of the world's finest jewellers for launching their new collections in the Middle East every season," said Mr. Saif Al Midfa, Director General of Expo Centre Sharjah after the inauguration ceremony.

"The event is widely acclaimed by jewellery connoisseurs for its display of unique and stylish collections. This year too, visitors to the exhibition will witness the unveiling of a range of new jewellery collections and are bound to be enthralled by some of the most exquisite creations," he added.

The MidEast Watch and Jewellery Show is occupying three halls of Expo Centre Sharjah measuring a total of 12,000 sq. m.

Besides individual participation, it is also featuring national pavilions from Hong Kong - China, India, Italy, Thailand, and Singapore.

Among the five pavilions, the Hong Kong pavilion is the biggest with 61 exhibitors. It is being hosted under the umbrella of the Hong Kong Jewelry Manufacturers' Association.

Fine Finished jewellery, diamonds, gemstones, semi-precious stones, and pearls, are the main items of display at the pavilion.

Hong Kong's impressive presence at the Show is a reflection of its growing commercial ties with the UAE. The UAE is Hong Kong's largest export market in the Middle East. Hong Kong's total exports to the UAE grew by 7% to USD $ 1,859 million during January-November 2006. Pearls, precious and semi-precious stones accounted for 16% of the total exports.

Hong Kong's fine jewellery exports rose 13.7 % to USD $ 3.7 billion in 2006. Since 2002, Hong Kong's jewellery sector exports have been increasing by 20% a year.

The Middle East represents around 5% of Hong Kong 's overall jewellery exports, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia being the major markets.

Besides the Hong Kong pavilion, the pavilions from Italy, India, Singapore and Thailand, also have an imposing presence at the Show.

The Italian pavilion, under the umbrella of CONFARTIGIANATO Federazione Provinciale dell'Artigianato di Napoli , is featuring a wide range of high-end gold and diamond collections.

The Indian pavilion is bound to fascinate visitors with its wide range of traditional and contemporary jewellery collections and their intricate designs.

The Thailand and Singapore pavilions are displaying precious stones and gems and medium range designer diamond jewellery respectively.

"The MidEast Watch and Jewellery Show has been experiencing phenomenal growth since it started a decade and a half back," said Mr. Saif Al Midfa.

"The current edition is bigger, both in terms of number of exhibitors and occupied exhibition space. A majority of the exhibitors had participated in the previous editions, a fact that once again highlights the show's high exhibitor retention rate. The high retention rate may be attributed to the confidence that jewellers repose on the event for effectively reaching out to jewellery lovers in the region. The show is probably the only one of its kind in the region that attracts such a large number of jewellery connoisseurs under one roof," he said.

The MidEast Watch and Jewellery Show is open from 10 am to 10 pm on April 25 and from 3 pm to 10 pm on April 26, 27, 28 and 29. It is open exclusively to ladies on April 26 and 28 from 10 am to 3 pm.