Jewellery & Watch Show Abu Dhabi 2026 Opens Its 33rd Edition at ADNEC

On 11 November, His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, cut the ribbon on the 33rd Jewellery & Watch Show Abu Dhabi at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, then walked the aisles to meet exhibitors from the UAE and abroad. The show runs until Sunday 15 November in Halls 1 to 3, open daily from 3pm to 10pm, and registration is free.

More than 100 brands from 12 countries are taking part this year, and we are planning to spend an evening there before it closes. Our reason is simple: few events in the capital put this many independent jewellers, regional gold houses and watch brands under one roof, with the people who made the pieces standing behind the counters.

Who is showing in Halls 1 to 3

The exhibitor list mixes returning names with several newcomers. Lausanne Jewellers, Rora Jewellery, Solitaire Jewels, Kreidy Jewellery, Hasbani Gioielli, Tapparini and Costis Fine Jewelry are all confirmed, and the stand we most want to find belongs to Kratistos Watches. Its timepieces are produced in runs limited to 323 pieces per model, a figure that tells us more about the brand’s intent than any slogan could.

The organisers point to the watch trends visitors can expect this year: pastel cases and straps inspired by confectionery, green and blue dials, platinum and diamond set models, and watches designed as wearable art. Alongside them, local and regional houses are presenting gold, diamond and gemstone jewellery that draws on the Gulf’s long tradition of adornment, next to contemporary collections aimed at a younger buyer.

The Ebda’a Awards add two categories

For us the most interesting part of the show sits beyond the sales floor. The Ebda’a Awards, founded by Emirati jewellery artist Azza Al Qubaisi, recognise emerging and established designers across nine categories. Two of them are new for 2026: Men’s Design and Bridal Design. Both feel overdue in a market where men’s jewellery is growing and where bridal sets remain the most significant purchase many families make.

A programme of workshops runs alongside the awards, led by Al Zahab Al Ahmar Academy, FIA in collaboration with Azza Al Qubaisi, Salam Swaid and the International Gemmological Institute. If the timing works, we intend to sit in on one, since hearing a gemmologist explain grading in person is worth more than any certificate printout.

A gallery for responsible jewellery

The Sustainable Jewellery Gallery brings together Thangals Jewellery, DewCarat Jewellery, Amaar Jewels, The Diamond Garden, Jama Jewels and Gem Experience. Each exhibitor is there to show how material choices, craftsmanship and careful design can support a more responsible way of making jewellery. We want to ask each of them the same question: where exactly does the stone or the metal come from, and how do they prove it.

May Ismail, Event Director of the show, said the organisers were “thrilled to have officially opened the 33rd edition”, bringing the UAE’s creative talent together with international brands. She added that visitors can explore exclusive collections, discover emerging regional and international designers and speak directly with industry experts.

Why the show matters in Abu Dhabi

The Jewellery & Watch Show is organised by RX, part of RELX, which runs around 350 events a year across 25 countries. Over three decades it has become a fixture of the capital’s calendar, and its consumer format means visitors can buy on the spot, often with show offers. With the Abu Dhabi luxury market continuing to grow, an edition that adds new award categories and a dedicated sustainability gallery suggests the organisers are thinking about who the buyer of the next decade will be.

We will report back on the pieces that stop us in our tracks. Until then, the practical details are below.

Plan your visit

• Event: Jewellery & Watch Show Abu Dhabi, 33rd edition
• Dates: 11 to 15 November 2026
• Hours: daily, 3pm to 10pm
• Venue: Halls 1 to 3, ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, Khaleej Al Arabi Street
• Entry: free with online registration at jws.ae

Imagery courtesy of Jewellery & Watch Show Abu Dhabi.

On Simply Luxury: Amaar Jewels