Dubai Watch Week celebrates a decade of shaping horological excellence and cultural exchange

Dubai’s foremost horological event returns with its largest edition yet; over 90 renowned brands, a new venue at Dubai Mall Burj Park, and a bold unparalleled programme.

Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, Dubai Watch Week returns for its seventh edition from 19–23 November 2025 at Dubai Mall, Burj Park.

This edition marks the 10th anniversary of Dubai Watch Week since its establishment in 2015, underscoring a decade of organic growth and rising influence within the horology world. Expanding to its largest footprint yet, the 200,000 sq. ft. venue will host more than 90 brands, a 48% increase from 2023, reflecting the event’s growing appeal amongst industry leaders and partners alike.

The objective for Dubai Watch Week remains clear: to deliver a compelling experience that speaks to diverse audiences while offering a platform for industry milestones, global launches, and meaningful dialogue. Alongside showcases from leading brands, this year’s edition will feature curated sessions and networking opportunities designed to foster exchange between watchmakers, collectors, and enthusiasts.

A new space at the heart of the event, the House of Horology sets the stage with over 12 sessions featuring candid conversations with leaders, creatives, and cultural voices. The programming will commence with an opening keynote session with Mr. Jean-Frédéric Dufour, CEO of Rolex, joined by Mr. Abdul Hamied Seddiqi, Chairman of Seddiqi Holding, titled ‘The Time to Act is Now - a note to the watch industry’. 

 A pivotal and unprecedented moment in the Dubai Watch Week offering, the session aims to celebrate horology and the industry as we unite for a moment in time.

Highlights include the first-ever CEO Roundtable: Horology Edition, where Georges Kern, Ilaria Resta, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele and Julien Tornare will share perspectives on the future of watchmaking. Moderated by Andy Hoffman, the session is designed to spark candid dialogue among industry leaders and provide audiences with rare insights into the strategies driving the sector forward.

“With each edition, Dubai Watch Week grows not just in scale but in purpose,” says Hind Seddiqi, CEO of Dubai Watch Week. “Our goal has always been to create a platform that bridges heritage and innovation, connects voices across the industry, and inspires audiences to engage with watchmaking as both craft and culture. We are honoured to have partners and brands utilise the Dubai Watch Week platform as a launchpad for major milestones and announcements, catering to the ever-evolving passion of the audience in our region and underscoring Dubai’s vision to be a leading hub for luxury, culture, heritage, and the arts, bringing together the greatest minds to collaborate, innovate, and pioneer across industries.”

François-Henry Bennahmias returns to the event tackling Fresh Eyes on Old Dials: A Critique of the Watch Industry, examining where legacy has become liability. Other highlights include two new Arabic panels exploring exclusivity and the codes of Gulf luxury markets, as well as family businesses with a focus on succession, strategy, and stewardship. When Labubu Beats the Birkin: Luxury in the Age of Hype with Richard Benc, George Bamford, and Misha Daud, and moderated by Robin Swithinbank, examines how algorithms and virality are reshaping desire, and what happens to legacy when taste goes viral. The Legacy Tension: The Art and Risk of Modernising the Familiar takes us inside Fabrizio Buonamassa’s bold rework of Bvlgari icons and the delicate balance between evolution and erasure.

Design. Defend. Win: DWW x Grail Design Finale Pitch will offer a first-of-its-kind live design competition. The programme will also feature an in-depth session with Alexia Genta on the life and vision of the legendary Gerald Genta, and a fireside chat with Maximilian Büsser and Kari Voutilainen, moderated by Chris Hall, as they explore the emotional, strategic, and the reality of future-proofing a brand while building their legacy.

Complementing these sessions, Audemars Piguet returns to Dubai Watch Week, engaging in a dynamic dialogue with the Dubai Future Foundation to explore how collaboration can spark bold innovation in watchmaking. Additionally, Van Cleef & Arpels and L’ÉCOLE by Van Cleef & Arpels will host curated educational experiences. A first of its kind, the exclusive premiere of the new Man of the Hour series featuring an in-depth look into industry legends and hosted by Wei Koh will take place on site.

The Collector’s Lounge will provide a more immersive experience for those keen to delve deeper into the world of watchmaking and luxury. The space will host several purpose-built sessions, while also showcasing a dedicated section featuring Ahmed Seddiqi’s exclusive 75th anniversary limited editions. Specially curated for this milestone, the collection honours the founder’s enduring vision and celebrates a legacy of craftsmanship.

This year’s masterclasses invite participants to step inside the world of watchmaking and craftsmanship through interactive, hands-on experiences. From Lume painting with Wristcheck’s in-house watchmaker to artistic processes behind marquetry design by re-imagining this traditional technique through the lens of collage, each session opens a window into the artistry behind horology. Highlights also include Gerald Charles’ Métiers d’Art experience, where guests will try their hand at traditional dial hand-hammering; Bangalore Watch Company’s Masterclass on Meteorites, offering the rare chance to handle celestial rocks and uncover their natural Widmanstätten patterns; and Atelier Wen’s The Art of Dings and Dents, where participants try their the hand at the decorative technique of martelé, and take home a 925 silver pendant of their own making, sealed in a beautiful finish of grand feu enamel. Hermès will also host a full day of masterclass sessions exclusively taking place at Dubai Watch Week.

Other sessions range from Rapport London’s introduction to assimilating watch winders, carefully aligning each element to create both function and elegance, and luxury design with the Hublot Watch Academy, where attendees will learn the delicate process of casing up a mechanical movement. Together, these workshops extend the event’s promise of not only showcasing watchmaking but allowing guests to engage directly with its techniques, materials, and traditions.

Over the last decade, Dubai Watch Week has welcomed thousands of visitors from across the globe, inspired collaborations with leading watchmakers, and championed independent brands alongside heritage brands. With its biggest edition yet, Dubai Watch Week 2025 cements its place as the platform where the watch world comes together to connect, create, and celebrate.