Under the patronage H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Deputy Chairman of Sharjah Executive Council, today inaugurated the 49th edition of the Watch & Jewellery Middle East Show (WJMES).
Organised by the Expo Centre Sharjah, with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the five-day event will host over 300 leading local and international jewellery companies and brands from 20 countries.
Sheikh Abdullah toured the exhibition halls, where he met with exhibitors and officials of Emirati companies and foreign pavilions. He was accompanied by Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI), Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General, SCCI, Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Center Sharjah, and members of the Board of Directors of the SCCI and Expo.
During the tour, Sheikh Abdullah was briefed on the latest products, technologies and innovative solutions in the gold industry, and the latest collections in the watch and jewellery. He also lauded the ongoing success of the Watch & Jewellery Middle East Show in attracting new national pavilions and major global brands of watch and gold.
On the occasion, Abdullah Sultan Al Owais said, “WJMES, which was launched 25 years ago, has turned from just a regional event to a global platform of a prominent position and importance among a wide segment of businessmen, investors, and workers in the field of manufacturing and designing watches and jewelry. The gold and jewelry sector is one of the important sectors in the UAE. Gold trade accounts for more than 29 percent of the total national non-oil exports. Hence the importance of the exhibition in enhancing the competitiveness and position of the gold industry in the UAE on the global trade map.”
Saif Al Midfa added, “The Watch & Jewellery Middle East Show enjoys a unique position among our exhibitions and events at the Expo Centre, as it represents a global destination in the manufacture of gold, diamond, and watches. The world’s big names in this industry are keen to participate in the event to reinforce their presence and expand their investments in local and regional markets.”
This year’s edition of WJMES is featuring national pavilions from the leading countries in the watch and jewelry industry, which offer luxurious and exclusive designs of gold with the signature of the most important names in the global jewelry markets.