*This year's edition marks a 65% increase in the number of exhibitors and 12 % growth in exhibition space
The 17th Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DJWE), which will be held under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, will start on February 24 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC).
Announcing the details of the show, Akbar al-Baker, Secretary General of the Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) and CEO of Qatar Airways Group said at a press conference on Monday that 127 exhibitors from 14 countries and over 500 local and international brands will participate in the prestigious event, which has seen a 65% increase in the number of exhibitors this year.
Among the participants are 18 Qatari designers including five newcomers who will showcase 16 jewellery brands.
With the growing popularity of the prestigious event, this show's area has been expanded to ??more than 33,000 sq m, marking a 12 % growth in exhibition space.
International exhibitors will make up more than 58% of the total number of vendors. Along with local Qatari designers, they will showcase more than 451 brands of watches and jewellery, providing a unique opportunity for luxury-seekers to learn about the latest products and innovations from the most renowned brands in Qatar and the world, all under one roof.
Al-Baker said the DJWE has become a major destination for seekers of luxury and elegance from around the world. “It enables direct interaction between brands and customers. New brands are launched and the latest products and releases of some of the world’s best-known names are unveiled. The exhibition has contributed to reinforcing Qatar's position as a host of international exhibitions, and plays a critical role in supporting Qatari talent by providing a platform for them to market their products, launch their brands and gain crucial experience through contacts with the most prestigious players in the field,” the QNTC Secretary General said.
DJWE occupies a distinguished position as an international exhibition and a leading destination that attracts aficionados of the world of fine jewellery and watches and lets them enjoy the latest trends and the most prestigious brands and interact with them. The activities and events that take place during the exhibition are inspired by a mixture of craftsmanship, beauty, heritage, passion and originality.
The exhibition was the platform from where the Young Qatari Designers Initiative was launched. This initiative provides a unique opportunity for promising Qatari talents to showcase their distinct designs and creations in one pavilion alongside the most prestigious brands in the world.
"We continue to develop the business events sector and enhance Qatar’s role in achieving its goal of sustainable tourism development, which is boosted by Qatar's world-class event management capabilities and facilities. We also continue to diversify tourism products in line with our target source markets,” al-Baker said.
This year’s exhibition, for the first time, will include a Turkish pavilion that features 11 Turkish brands, in addition to the return of the Indian pavilion for the second year in a row with 28 brands, which is more than double the number in 2019. The Indian pavilion will display wide and distinctive varieties of the latest and finest Indian jewellery that has been crafted to suit all tastes and occasions.
DJWE will showcase a number of exclusive pieces designed by famed global brands such as Tag Heuer and FPG, in addition to the participation of world-renowned diamond brand De Beers, which comes to Doha for the first time ahead of the opening of its first Qatari branch at Al Hazm.
Among the highlights is the participation of Qatar Watch Club, which will exhibit a collection of rare collectables and limited edition pieces and the participation of the prestigious French Objective Horlogerie group, which will provide various workshops, including a watch care workshop organised by the group for the first time in the Middle East.
The exhibition also provides consulting services by certified experts, gem specialists, and specialists who will provide free appraisals to visitors looking to buy jewellery at the exhibition, in addition to various educational and interactive activities.
A global media campaign is run in target markets in advance of DJWE featuring Sonam Kapoor as the face and the guide for visitors on their journey to beauty. The campaign was launched in 16 markets including Kuwait, Oman, the United Kingdom and France and it’s expected to reach 450 mn viewers, listeners and readers through social media and TV channels such as BBC, CNN, Sky News UK, Fashion TV, Kuwait TV and others.
The press conference also witnessed a signing ceremony between QNTC and QNB, which will be one of the key sponsors of this year’s edition.
The 17th DJWE is organised with the partnership of Qatar Airways as airline partner, the JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha as hotel partner and Qatar National Bank, amongst other partners and sponsors.
This year’s edition also witnesses the continued participation of some of Qatar’s premier jewellery patrons, at the forefront of which are Al-Fardan Jewellery, Al-Majed Jewellery, Ali Bin Ali Jewellery and Watches Group, Amiri Jewellery, Fifty-One East, Al Muftah Jewellery and Blue Salon.
