Dubai Watch Week 2025 to Host Over 90 Brands in Landmark Seventh Edition

Middle East’s Premier Horological Showcase Returns with Expanded Venue, Broader Brand Line-Up, and a Public-Facing Ethos

Dubai Watch Week, the most significant horological event in the Middle East, is set to return from 19 to 23 November 2025, marking its seventh edition since its inception in 2015. Organised by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, the fair will welcome over 90 watch brands to its new, high-profile location at the Dubai Mall and Burj Park, adjacent to the Burj Khalifa — a landmark setting that mirrors the ambition of the event itself.

A Distinctive Platform for Industry and Public Engagement

Dubai Watch Week is not a trade fair in the traditional sense. Unlike Watches and Wonders or SIHH, it is open to the public, and admission is free. The event places a strong emphasis on education, cultural exchange, and collector engagement, making it unique in the global horological calendar. Since 2015, the fair has grown steadily in stature, attracting industry leaders, emerging watchmakers, and an increasingly international audience.

Its mission, as expressed by the organisers, is to "bridge communities and facilitate knowledge-sharing within the watch industry and beyond". This ethos is realised through curated exhibitions, open dialogues, watchmaking masterclasses, and access to some of the rarest timepieces in the world.

An Expansive and Varied Brand Line-Up

The 2025 edition will feature a broad spectrum of participants, from global maisons to independent ateliers. Among the major brands confirmed are:

• Rolex, Audemars Piguet, TUDOR, Van Cleef & Arpels, Hublot, Chopard, Breitling, TAG Heuer, BVLGARI, CHANEL, Girard-Perregaux, and Gerald Charles

Each of these will have bespoke displays or brand spaces throughout the exhibition areas.

Notably, the event continues to champion independent watchmaking, a field that has seen a renaissance in recent years. Attendees will encounter highly regarded names such as:

• F.P. Journe, Greubel Forsey, De Bethune, MB&F, Laurent Ferrier, URWERK, Kari Voutilainen, Konstantin Chaykin, Rexhep Rexhepi, and Roger W. Smith

These independents — many of whom operate outside the major group structures — are often cited as the true innovators of contemporary haute horlogerie.

A wide array of emerging brands and regional watchmakers will also be present, including Studio Underd0g, MING, Czapek & Cie, Kurono Tokyo, Behrens, HYT, Kudoke, Velini Watches, Vyntage Horology, Raketa, and Biver — the latter marking the return of Jean-Claude Biver to independent watchmaking alongside his son, Pierre.

A Region of Rising Importance

The timing and growth of Dubai Watch Week are emblematic of the Middle East’s rising influence in the luxury watch market. According to Swiss export data from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH), the UAE consistently ranks among the top 10 global destinations for Swiss timepieces by value, with Dubai accounting for a large share of that total.

Beyond sheer volume, the region is notable for its appetite for independent watchmaking, bespoke pieces, and high complications — a contrast to the mainstream-dominated preferences seen in other major markets.

In addition, the event benefits from Dubai’s status as an international travel hub and its sophisticated infrastructure, making it a natural gathering place for collectors, journalists, and brand executives from Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

The Horology Forum and Educational Programming

A defining feature of Dubai Watch Week is its Horology Forum — a series of panel discussions, lectures, and debates that explore topics such as craftsmanship, sustainability, gender in watchmaking, and the future of mechanical timekeeping in the digital age.

The forum is non-commercial, allowing for candid conversations between CEOs, independent watchmakers, historians, and collectors. Past editions have featured figures such as Max Büsser (MB&F), Jean-Claude Biver, and Hind Seddiqi, Director General of Dubai Watch Week.

The event also includes watchmaking masterclasses led by expert artisans and exhibition modules such as the Creative Hub and Collector’s Lounge, further enhancing its educational mission.

Looking Ahead

Dubai Watch Week 2025 not only underscores the growing cultural relevance of horology in the Middle East, but also reflects an evolving global industry that values storytelling, direct engagement, and craftsmanship as much as technical innovation.

As the landscape of global watch fairs continues to shift, Dubai’s inclusive, accessible, and experience-led approach offers a model for how luxury events might evolve in the years ahead — less about trade, and more about time well spent.