Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) has announced that the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DJWE) has been designated a ‘UFI Approved International Event’ by The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), bringing to the exhibition a level of prestige and credibility enjoyed by just 954 other events around the world.
UFI is the leading global association of the world’s trade show organisers and exhibition centre operators. The ‘UFI Approved Event’ and ‘UFI Approved International Event’ labels are globally recognised as the gold standard for quality in exhibitions and trade shows, QNTC has said in a statement.
Since UFI’s inception in 1925, 954 exhibitions in 75 countries and regions have been granted UFI Approved International Event status. Doha-based exhibition Project Qatar is also a UFI Approved International Event.
Ahmed al-Obaidly, director of exhibitions at QNTC, said: “We have always been incredibly proud of this premier jewellery and watches exhibition and DJWE’s designation as a UFI Approved Event serves as a testament to the high-level of events we are producing in Qatar as well as the elite vendors and customers they attract. 
“Qatar boasts of world-class exhibition and conference venues and we embrace this designation as yet another chance to welcome the international exhibition community to come and do business here.”
In 2018, QNTC joined UFI’s exclusive roster of diamond sponsors and signed an accompanying framework agreement aimed at developing the exhibition industry in Qatar. The agreement focuses on connecting Qatar to the industry’s fastest growing markets and will last for five years.
UFI approved events must adhere to a set of criteria and organisers must perform regular audits to ensure the highest international standards. In return, the association connects event organisers to its 1,800 UFI Approved International Events contacts. 
With the designation, QNTC will obtain full UFI membership and the opportunity to use UFI branding on all DWJE conference branding, the statement adds.
There are approximately 32,000 exhibitions around the world each year, attracting over 300mn visitors and accounting for $137bn in spending, according to UFI.
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