Dubai Watch Week Excites With Colors And Courage
1. Swiss Legend With Ad(ded) Value
His image is a fixture at every luxury trade fair as a Rolex brand ambassador: former tennis superstar and current (according to Forbes) billionaire entrepreneur Roger Federer. The Basel native also maintains a residence in Dubai.
A Rolex reference 4113 was auctioned in Dubai on November 17, a week before the start of the trade fair, for a world record sum of US$4.72 million. The bid marked one of the most significant Rolex auctions of all time.
Commercial icon Roger Federer. (Image: Gérard Al-Fil)
2. Purchase Me!
In the Arab world, gold is generally worn by women. Men wearing gold watches or gold-plated jewelry are uncommon in the Orient, unlike in India, for example.
A Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust, Superlative Chronometer, for ladies. (Image: Gérard Al-Fil).
3. Catwalk For The Happy Few
According to the study «The Rise of Dubai» by MCB Group, Stewards Investment Capital and New World Wealth from June 2025, Dubai is positioned as the fourth richest city in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region with 86,000 millionaires and an estimated total investable wealth of US$1.1 trillion.
See and be seen at the 7th Dubai Watch Week. (Image: Gérard Al-Fil)
4. The Watch World Likes To Meet In Fly-Buy-Dubai
According to Mastercard, a growing number of women in the Gulf Emirates are becoming self-employed and accumulating their own private wealth. The credit card provider reports that 47 percent of Emirati women describe themselves as entrepreneurs.
The agony of choice: 90 watch brands from all over the world, most of them from Switzerland, are taking part this year.(Image: Gérard Al-Fil)
5. Petrodollars And Profits
Market researchers at Mordor Intelligence estimate the luxury goods market in the Gulf States at $15 to $17 billion per year. The segment is expected to grow by 9 percent annually until 2033.
Sealing the deal: an Arab buyer made up her mind. (Image: Gérard Al-Fil)
6. Geneva Jubilee In The Gulf
Exquisite timepieces from the Geneva-based watchmaker Gérard Charles. (Image: Gérard Al-Fil)
7. Masters Of The Millennium
Anyone who speaks French felt right at home at Dubai Watch Week, thanks to the many watch experts from Western Switzerland and France.
The Dubai watch fair is also a regular gathering of industry heavyweights. Master watchmakers Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasin showcased their latest Louis Vuitton creations — part of the French group LVMH Moët Hennessy.
Michel Navas (left) and Enrico Barbasini. (Image: Gérard Al-Fil)
8. To Know How To Attract Attention
Robots are emerging as new status symbols in the villas of Dubai’s sheikhs and VIPs. That trend was also reflected at the watch fair, for example by the French makers at «Atelier des Artisans.»
The designs originate in Paris, while the handcrafted finished products are produced in Dubai.(Image: Gérard Al-Fil)
9. Sponsoring Pays Off, Hopefully
Tudor from Geneva has been the official timekeeper of the Dakar Rally off-road race in Saudi Arabia since 2025 and showcases this proudly at Dubai Watch Week. The next Dakar Rally will take place from January 3 to 17, 2026.
Sponsorship is playing an increasingly important role in Saudi Arabia as the kingdom opens up and introduces visa facilitations for more and more countries.
The booth of Geneva-based Tudor was entirely dedicated to the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. (Image: Gérard Al-Fil)
10. Wealth Trough The Ages
Watches — and much more: This year’s watch fair in the Gulf emirate featured an open-air gallery, «Dubai Races Against Time,» offering insights into the history of luxury timepieces in Dubai.
With Dubai Watch Week, the Gulf emirate set another visitor record in the MICE segment. Around 23,000 visitors were drawn to the new exhibition venue near the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall shopping center. In previous years, Watch Week had always been held at the Dubai International Financial Centre.
