Dubai Watch Week, the region’s most anticipated five-day horology event, opens today in the UAE city.

Many of the week’s major events will take place within Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

Now in its second edition, the event is being held under the theme ‘Masters of Time’, and under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority. 

It is organised and curated by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, the Middle East’s leading retailer of luxury watches and jewellery, and sponsored by Gate Avenue at DIFC, an upcoming premium urban retail, leisure and cultural destination within the centre.

The week will bring together local and international visitors, collectors, brands and watchmakers, in addition to the DIFC’s community of more than 21,000 professionals. 

As a non-commercial event, Dubai Watch Week will look to inspire and spark the interests of the global watch community, promoting Dubai as a platform for watch enthusiasts and experts. Celebrating latest achievements, craftsmanship and innovation within the luxury watch industry, visitors will be encouraged to learn about the skills and knowledge required for mechanical watchmaking.

Events being hosted in the DIFC include a Horological Movements exhibition (November 15 to 19), the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève winning watches exhibition (November 15 to 19), the Horology Forum (November 16 to 19), Creative Hub (November 16 to 19), and watchmaking master classes (November 16 to 19).

This year, the Horology Forum will see the debut of the likes of François-Henry Bennahmias, CEO of Audemars Piguet, Alain Zimmerman, CEO of Baume & Mercier, David Sadigh, Founder and CEO of Digital Luxury Group and Michael Tay, Group Managing Director of The Hour Glass, inject fresh ideas and opinions across the 16 new forum topics. 

In addition, the forum will be welcoming back a number of the industry’s most tenured watch icons and beloved independent watch personalities including Jean-Marc Wiedderecht, the owner and CEO of Agenhor, Maximilian Busser, the founder of MB&F, Pascal Raffy, the owner of Bovet and Philippe Dufour, a renowned independent watchmaker.

“Last year, our Horology Forum saw over 30 global watch experts speak across 16 different panels and we are delighted to welcome a number of returning speakers to Dubai for this year’s edition. In addition, we are honoured to add more than a dozen of the watch industry’s leading minds to complement and share fresh insights during the second edition of Dubai Watch Week. We are also pleased to expand our forum topics to include a range of subjects from historical timekeeping to more controversial, hotly debated topics of recent years such as ‘Smart Watches’, ‘Digital Curators’ and ‘The Power of Influence’,” says Melika Yazdjerdi, Director of Dubai Watch Week.

DIFC Gate Village will be available for prestigious networking events with a cocktail reception, lunches and a gala dinner, allowing the opportunity for new partnerships and alliances among businesses across all sectors as the country’s cultural season continues in full swing.

Meanwhile, activities at the Dubai Mall include HH Academy & Certification (November 20 to 24), the Mastery of Time exhibition (November, 15 to 29), and 24 Hours in the Life of a Swiss Cuckoo Clock exhibition (November 15 to 29). 

Raja Al Mazrouei, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications at DIFC Authority, said: “Dubai Watch Week’s purpose is to bring people together from around the world to exchange ideas, innovate and trade. This reflects our shared mission of facilitating opportunities across the region and becoming a meeting ground for different interests – whether it be for horologists, businesses, visitors or residents.”

“We are honoured and excited to be collaborating with Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons once again who, as a well-established retailer, has founded this homegrown and internationally recognised event  as a means of fostering the interests of the global watch community. Hosting the event in DIFC demonstrates our commitment to bringing luxury lifestyle initiatives to our distinguished clients and the wider community.”

The Dubai Week Week is being held as the DIFC embarks on a massive expansion, with construction recently starting on Gate Avenue at DIFC, a project worth AED1 billion ($272 million). 

The new development will enhance DIFC’s offerings of shopping, cultural and entertainment options through a series of inter-linked, spacious indoor and outdoor spaces that link up all the central podiums in the district. 

Convening the world’s most coveted retail brands, culinary concepts and art events, Gate Avenue at DIFC is an integrated and vibrant lifestyle community that enhances synergies to create a uniquely-curated mix of experiences. Located in the heart of Dubai, the development will connect the entire financial district, which will aesthetically and artistically link all building podiums within DIFC.   

Gate Avenue at DIFC will feature three zones – the North, Central and South – all connected by an outdoor promenade level that delivers a luxurious community hub for professionals, residents, and visitors.  

Offering 660,000 sq ft of built-up area, Gate Avenue at DIFC will bring visitors a selection of more than 200 dining, shopping and cultural experiences.