Jewellery Arabia 2009 Report

Jewellery Arabia 2009, the eighteenth show in the series of high profile exhibitions serving the Middle East’s fine jewellery and luxury watch market, ended on a positive note on 21 November having reaffirmed its position as the definitive industry event of its kind in the region.

The five-day exhibition, held under the patronage of His Royal Highness the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, occupied 18,000 square metres of space at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre.

Showcasing 600 companies from 30 countries, Jewellery Arabia 2009 attracted a total of 39,829 jewellery trade buyers and private collectors. Of the total number, 9,043 visitors (23%) were drawn from the region’s single largest jewellery market of Saudi Arabia, with significant support also coming from Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and other neighbouring countries.

The continuing importance of the Jewellery Arabia series to the watch and jewellery industry is evidenced by the event’s sheer size, extensive exhibitor participation and healthy visitor attendance despite the current global economic situation,
said Arabian Exhibition Management’s director of sales and marketing Fawzi Al Shehabi.  

Feedback from exhibitors indicates that whilst some wholesale and retail customers were cautious in comparison to previous years, business was brisk enough to either exceed or meet the majority of participants’ exhibition objectives during this challenging time,
he continued.

The success of Jewellery Arabia 2009 is further reflected in the fact that 85% of available space at Jewellery Arabia 2010, set to take place from 26 to 30 October 2010, was sold before the close of the exhibition.

Visitors to Jewellery Arabia 2009 were dazzled by the region’s largest display of luxury watches; diamond, gem-set, platinum, gold and silver jewellery. Retail packaging and merchandising material, and jewellery manufacturing machinery and technology also played an important part in the exhibition.

National pavilions from leading jewellery export countries included Brazil, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Thailand and Turkey. Jewellery Arabia 2009 also welcomed its first official delegation of Malaysian exhibitors coordinated by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE).

The latest high quality jewellery collections and luxury watches from world famous jewellery houses including Cartier, Chopard, De Beers, Graff Diamonds, Harry Winston, Patek Phillipe, Piaget, Van Cleef & Arpels and many more also went on display - consolidating Jewellery Arabia’s reputation as the region’s most prestigious jewellery event.

A strong Lebanese and GCC contingent drawn from the region’s most exclusive jewellers complimented this line up. Amongst them were Bahrain’s leading jewellers -– Bahrain Jewellery Centre, Asia Jewellers, Al Mahmood Pearls and Al Zain – who brought together stunning collections of international brands in boutique formats.

 

The Middle East Watches, Jewellery and Pen Awards – 2010 Edition

Further highlighting the importance of the Middle East region to the industry, the Ritz Carlton Hotel Bahrain played host to the Middle East Watches, Jewellery and Pen Awards for the fifth consecutive year.

Hosted by MPPArabia, this glittering ceremony on 17 November was held under the patronage of the Minister of Industry and Commerce His Excellency Dr. Hassan Fakhro and rewarded top industry brands for their creativity and distinction.

The Jewellery Arabia series of exhibitions is organised by Bahrain's leading exhibition organiser – Arabian Exhibition Management WLL, and marketed worldwide by London based Overseas Exhibition Services Ltd and Singapore based International Expo Management Pte Ltd. These companies are all members of Allworld Exhibitions, a global network of exhibition organisers with 35 offices worldwide who currently organise over 150 trade exhibitions biennially.