20th MidEast Watch and Jewellery Show to be held at Expo Centre Sharjah from April 10

The event, which will be the first in the Middle East to display the 2006 Spring Collection, will host leading jewellers from across the world including Bahrain, Hong Kong, China, India, Italy, Jordan, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, and the UAE.

Besides individual participation, national pavilions from India, Italy, Singapore, and Hong Kong will also have an imposing presence at the Show.

A major highlight of the MidEast Watch and Jewellery Show this edition will be the largest ever collective participation from Singapore and Hong Kong based jewellers, who will display the latest collection of gold and diamond jewellery for the season at the event. In fact, the Hong Kong Jewellery Manufacturer's Association will be utilizing the show to display in the Middle East region the collection that it had recently exhibited in the Basel show.

The Hong Kong and Singapore pavilions will be host to 62 and 12 jewellery companies respectively. The Indian pavilion, which will be the second biggest pavilion at the show, will feature 22 leading jewellers.

The five-day bi-annual event, held under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and organised by Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), will open its doors for the Middle East's jewellery loving public from April 10, 2006.

The Show, while continuing with its conventional focus on contemporary gold and diamond jewllery, will also display fashion jewellery, precious stones, pearl sets, crystals, watches, timepieces, jewellery displays, and different kinds of tools used in the trade.

Among the major eye catchers at the show will be exquisitely crafted jewellery designs from Italy, both traditional and contemporary jewellery collections from India, affordable yet fashionable jewellery from Hong Kong and Singapore, and ethnic jewellery from Turkey.

"The coming edition of the MidEast Watch and Jewellery Show will be bigger, both in terms of the number of exhibitors and occupied space, compared to the last edition,"

said Mr. Saif Al Midfa, Director General, Expo Centre Sharjah.

"In terms of number of exhibitors, there has been an increase of 33 percent, while occupied exhibition space for the show has gone up by almost 50 percent. This in itself is a demonstration of the reputation that the show had garnered over the years," he added.

Mr. Saif Al Midfa also added: "Despite the significant rise in gold prices, there has been no let up in the demand for gold and gold jewellery in the GCC states, especially the UAE. In fact, the demand seems to be rising."

The MidEast Watch and Jewellery Show will be open for general visitors on April 10 and 11 between 10 am and 10 pm and on April 12, 13, and 14 from 4 pm to 10 pm. It will be open exclusively for ladies on April 12 and 13 between 10 am and 4 pm.

The Show will have several added attractions including daily raffle draws for buyers of jewellery worth Dhs 500 and above, installment facility for debit and credit card holders of Mashreq Bank for purchases worth Dhs 1,000 and above, dedicated play area for children under 12 years of age, and much more.