Dubai Watch Week 2023 marks its biggest edition yet with over 23,000 visitors

Dubai Watch Week concluded its biggest and most successful edition to date, marked by a record increase in visitor attendance, participating brands, exclusive launches and more.

The five-day event attracted over 23,000 visitors, marking a 42% increase in attendance from the previous edition, underscoring Dubai and the UAE’s vision of becoming a leading global and creative hub for culture, heritage, and the arts. The event collectively united industry brands, CEOs, watchmakers, affiliates and partners to pioneer trends and foster discussions, augmenting the event’s atmosphere and offering.

The 6th edition featured the highest participation to date with 63 exhibiting brands, including over 10 first-time participants such as Van Cleef & Arpels, CHANEL, La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton and ID Genève. The event also witnessed over 20 launches from renowned watch brands unveiling global, UAE and Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons limited editions.

Key announcements from Dubai Watch Week 2023 included Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet revealing its new partnership with the Dubai Future Foundation—a long-term collaboration aimed at pushing innovation further within and beyond Haute Horlogerie. Additionally, the launch of a new brand, Vyntage Horology, led by the vision of the Seddiqi family was launched at the event, highlighting a bold stride into the creation of luxury timepieces, drawing from the family's vast experience in the industry.

Hind Seddiqi, Director General, Dubai Watch Week, said, “Dubai Watch Week is an opportunity to explore watch culture in the most unique way - the platform showcases the depth of horology and offers our audience the opportunity to meet and interact with both new and established brands, artisans, watchmakers, media and collectors. It is incredibly humbling to observe the global and regional recognition we continue to receive with each edition. As we reflect on the success of the 6^th edition, we are incredibly grateful to our partners and brands as we pioneer the luxury and horology industry and illustrate the prominence of the platform.”

Dubai Watch Week also celebrated the curious confluence and undercurrents of local craftsmanship via the programme. Through collaborations with brand partners such as Hublot, two timepieces were launched and designed with award-winning calligraphy artist Wissam Shawkat. Additionally, Reservoir unveiled its collaboration with the renowned Emirati artist Abdulla Lutfi, introducing a distinctive timepiece that seamlessly blends modern art with traditional Swiss-made horology. Through Masterclasses, the event hosted a unique Emirati Safeefah Leather Bracelet-making workshop by Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council.  

This year, the Horology Forum and Creative Hub sessions gathered renowned leaders from their respective fields to dissect and dialogue; and introduced the first-ever Arabic panel, adding a new dimension to the platform. All panels were livestreamed, and recorded and are available for viewing on the Dubai Watch Week YouTube Channel.

Dubai Watch Week will return in 2024 via the travelling edition of Horology Forum, the 10^th iteration of this programme to unite for a moment in time.