Dubai Watch Week

What Dubai Watch Week does

Dubai Watch Week is a biennial luxury watch event and non-commercial platform founded in 2015 and operated by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons LLC, the leading UAE luxury watch retailer established in 1950. The event convenes collectors, watchmakers, brand executives, and media at Dubai Mall's Burj Park, with the 2025 edition spanning 200,000 square feet and featuring 90+ brands. Core programming includes the Horology Forum (an 11-edition panel-led intellectual platform credited as the first of its kind in the watch industry), Masterclasses, Creative Hub, and Collectors Lounge.

The platform's underlying technology is overwhelmingly physical-event driven, supported by a content and engagement layer: the dubaiwatchweek.com website, YouTube for Horology Forum livestreaming, a mobile app on iOS and Android, and an editorial digest. Distribution combines the Burj Park venue, global digital streaming, and a satellite event model demonstrated by editions in New York (2022) and Hong Kong (2024). The organization does not develop proprietary AI or machine learning systems based on disclosed information.

Dubai Watch Week is funded and operated as a strategic initiative of the Seddiqi family business, with no external institutional investors. Revenue is generated through tiered sponsorship and partnership deals with founding partner Ahmed Seddiqi, strategic partners Dubai DET and Dubai Mall, lead partner Bonhams, and official partners and supporters including Emirates NBD Private Banking, Baccarat, and Jetex. The 2023 edition generated $31M+ in PR value and 2,000+ media clippings, underscoring the event's role as a brand-building and deal-origination platform for participating maisons rather than a direct ticket-revenue business. The organization has extended into adjacent commerce through its 2023-launched subsidiary Vyntage Horology, which focuses on vintage and pre-owned luxury watches.

Name

Dubai Watch Week

Legal name

Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons LLC

Website

https://dubaiwatchweek.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dubai Watch Week is a biennial non-commercial luxury watch event founded in 2015 by Ahmed Seddiqi, convening 90+ brands, collectors, watchmakers, and media at Dubai Mall's Burj Park through masterclasses, panels, and limited-edition launches.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Watch Events and Horology Experiences

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Retail, Consumer Goods & Lifestyle Shows Organizers (THAHABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trade Shows & Industry Expos (B2B) (MPAGAHAB), Lifestyle, Home & Garden Shows (MPAGAFAB)

Keywords

• Luxury watch events
• Horology forums
• Watch brand showcases
• Collector networking experiences
• Watch industry masterclasses

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship and Partnership Revenue: Dubai Watch Week generates revenue through tiered partnerships with watch brands, strategic partners, and official supporters. Partners include founding partner Ahmed Seddiqi, strategic partners like Dubai DET and Dubai Mall, lead partner Bonhams, official partners Emirates NBD and Baccarat, and official supporter Jetex.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dubai Watch Week is a biennial luxury watch event and movement that convenes global watch brands, collectors, industry leaders, and enthusiasts for masterclasses, panel discussions, brand showcases, and exclusive product launches. The event operates as a non-commercial platform organized by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons LLC, with satellite programming including the Horology Forum, Creative Hub, Collectors Lounge, and editorial content distribution.

Product overview

Dubai Watch Week is a luxury watch event and movement founded in 2015 by Ahmed Seddiqi, celebrating the art of horology through knowledge sharing, forging connections, and bringing together brands, communities, enthusiasts, and industries. The event operates as a platform with multiple integrated components: the core biennial event featuring Horology Forum (panel discussions), Masterclasses (craft workshops), Creative Hub (innovation sessions), and Collectors Lounge (exclusive networking). Supporting offerings include the Editorial Digest (editorial content) and Food & Beverage Experiences. The event serves as the Middle East's largest non-commercial watch platform, hosting over 90 global brands and featuring limited edition launches and regional debuts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Horology Forum: An original concept by Dubai Watch Week, the Horology Forum is a space for free-flowing discussions between master craftsmen, industry leaders, visionaries, and collectors. It is the first panel-led format in the watch industry.
• Creative Hub
• Collectors Lounge

Products and services

• Dubai Watch Week (Biennial Event) A biennial luxury watch event and movement celebrating horology, supporting initiatives with similar values, bridging communities and creating unique opportunities for networking and creative exchange. The event features activities including masterclasses, forums, exhibitions, and brand showcases.
• Horology Forum An intellectual space featuring free-flowing discussions between master craftsmen, industry leaders, visionaries, and collectors. The first panel-led format in the watch industry, bringing together renowned figures from within and beyond horology.
• Masterclasses Immersive sessions celebrating the art of horology and fine craftsmanship led by renowned experts and luxury maisons. Topics include watch winder mastery, craftsmanship techniques, and artistic disciplines.
• Creative Hub Promotes dialogues and conversations fostering creativity, championing innovation and celebrating the industry. Features limited-edition watch reveals, UAE limited editions, regional and global launches.
• Collectors Lounge A dedicated space for connoisseurs, enthusiasts, and voices from across regional and international horological community. Features brand launches, interactive sessions, exclusive meet-and-greets, and networking opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dubai Watch Week generates over $31M in PR value from a single edition
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered founding partner, strategic partner, lead partner, official partner, official supporter and partner.

• Ahmed Seddiqifounding partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Ahmed Seddiqi, established in 1950, is the founding partner and parent organization of Dubai Watch Week. As the leading luxury watch and jewellery retailer in the UAE with over 100 brands across 50+ locations, Ahmed Seddiqi provides the core sponsorship, organizational infrastructure, and industry credibility for the event. The company celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2025, coinciding with DWW's milestone edition.
• Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET)strategic partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerDubai DET serves as the principal authority for planning, supervising, developing, and marketing Dubai's business and tourism sectors. DET provides strategic support and legitimacy to Dubai Watch Week as part of Dubai's positioning as a global hub for luxury and tourism.
• Dubai Mall by Emaarstrategic partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerDubai Mall, the world's second-largest shopping mall at 1.2 million square meters with over 1,200 retail outlets, serves as the venue host for Dubai Watch Week 2025 at Burj Park. The partnership provides premium location and exposure to high-end consumer traffic.
• Bonhamslead partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerBonhams is a global auction house network with 14 salerooms, presenting over 1,000 sales annually across 60+ specialist categories including fine art, collectables, luxury, wine & spirits, and collector cars. Bonhams hosts inspiring talks and exclusive events celebrating watchmaking artistry and connections to design, culture, and innovation.
• Emirates NBD Private Bankingofficial partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerEmirates NBD Private Banking serves High-Net-Worth and Ultra-High-Net-Worth clients as part of the UAE's wealth management sector. Partners with DWW to connect with affluent collectors and enthusiasts in the luxury watch community.
• Baccarat Hotel & Residences Maldivesofficial partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerBaccarat, known worldwide for its mastery of crystal, presents its vision of contemporary luxury at Dubai Watch Week, extending its heritage into refined living experiences through the Maldives property.
• Jetexofficial supporterGTM or Marketing PartnerJetex is an award-winning global leader in private aviation with 37 private terminals across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, and South America. Provides premium travel services for attendees and supports DWW as an official supporter.
• Christie'spartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristie's partnered with Dubai Watch Week to present world experts in luxury and art through a series of talks, displays, and activations. The partnership extended to hosting Horology Forum 10 at Christie's The Henderson in Hong Kong in 2024, demonstrating the international reach of the collaboration.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SalonQP London: A UK-based watch event focused on independent watchmaking, craftsmanship, and collector education. Comparable to DWW's Creative Hub and masterclass programming through its emphasis on artisan brands, technical sessions, and connoisseur audiences.
• WatchTime New York: WatchTime magazine's annual New York collector event combining brand showcases, panel discussions, and masterclasses. Directly comparable in format — a media-led multi-brand event with educational programming targeting collectors and enthusiasts.
• Watches and Wonders Geneva: The flagship annual watch industry fair in Geneva (formerly SIHH) hosting the world's leading luxury watch maisons. Directly comparable as a large-scale international exhibition and brand showcase serving the same collector, media, and brand audiences as Dubai Watch Week.
• Geneva Watch Days: A multi-brand watch event held in Geneva hotels showcasing novelties to press and retailers. Comparable as a boutique-style watch gathering aimed at independent and mainstream brands seeking concentrated media exposure, similar in spirit to DWW's collector-facing format.

Broad incumbents

• TimeToMove (Swatch Group): Swatch Group's multi-brand watch event rotating through European cities to showcase its portfolio. Directly comparable as an industry-organized multi-brand exhibition format, though restricted to a single group's brands rather than the open-brand model DWW operates.
• LVMH Watch Week: LVMH's group-level watch showcase (TAG Heuer, Hublot, Bulgari, Zenith) held in early-year editions. Comparable as a major luxury conglomerate's curated watch platform with similar brand-launch and media-engagement objectives, though operating at group scale rather than as an independent fair.

Others

• Bonhams: International auction house serving as Lead Partner for Dubai Watch Week 2025. Comparable as a partner and ecosystem participant offering talks, displays, and activations at DWW while independently operating watch sales and collector programming.
• Phillips Watches: Leading auction house for collectible timepieces with annual Geneva and Hong Kong watch auctions and collector events. Comparable as an ecosystem participant that engages the same HNW collector and brand audiences Dubai Watch Week serves.
• Christie's (Watch Department): Global auction house with a dedicated watch department and an existing partner of DWW (hosted Horology Forum 10 in Hong Kong). Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem player curating collector experiences, brand launches, and educational programming around horology.

Regional players

• Dubai Shopping Festival: Dubai's flagship annual retail and tourism festival promoted by Dubai DET, sharing some governmental backing with DWW. Comparable as a regional Dubai-based consumer event leveraging tourism infrastructure, though broader in scope and not watch-specific.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@dubaiwatchweek
• Instagraminstagram.com/dubaiwatchweek
• Xx.com/dubaiwatchweek
• Facebookfacebook.com/dubaiwatchweek
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dubai-watch-week

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dubai Watch Week