1ST round of judging completed for the Pan-Arab Gold Jewellery Design Contest

The contest, tagged as 'Al Ibda'a Al Hur', was launched in September 2005. It saw an overwhelming response of around 8000 gold jewellery designs from both amateur and professional Arab designers from all over the world. The designs were upraised, by both the World Gold Council and L'Azurde Jewellery, who selected 30 preliminary finalists from different Arab countries. These 30 designs are now being manufactured by L'Azurde's expert artisans and technicians and are expected to be ready by 25th June, 2006 for the second round of judging.

After the first judging which took place at the World Gold Council offices in Dubai in February, a second judging session will be held in June to announce the final 6 winners selected from the 30 finalists. This judging panel will consist of famous celebrities from the Arab world, a jewellery designer, a fashion designer, and a fashion expert. The names of the winners will thereafter be formally announced through a press conference the next day after the 2nd judging was held.

The Grand Finale is expected to take place in the last quarter of the year. The big gala dinner and a jewellery fashion show of all the 30 jewellery designs that were manufactured will be on the catwalk, in the presence of well known Arab celebrities, fashion experts, designers and jewelers.

'The fourth Pan-Arab Gold Jewellery Design Contest is aimed at kindling the latent jewellery talent in the region. This will identify and encourage Arab jewellery designers and provide them with wide exposure. This edition of the contest saw the submission date being extended by popular request and has received an all-time huge response. With the completion of the 2nd round of judging, we will soon see the vision of these talented contestants soon realized as dazzling reality,'

said Mr. Moaz Barakat, Managing Director, World Gold Council in the Middle East, Turkey and Pakistan.

First launched in Saudi Arabia then in the U.A.E., the Pan-Arab Gold Jewellery Design contest is one of the most awaited events in the region. It is targeted at jewellery enthusiasts and art lovers who can depict the subtle nuances and features of their environment, as well as the beauty of the Arab culture in gold jewellery.

The World Gold Council has teamed up with L'Azurde, the largest jewellery manufacturer in the Arab world for the fourth time and gave Future TV the exclusive rights to cover event. On the print side, Zahrat Al Khaleej will be the official magazine for the event, and will cover it with a special report.