In just a decade, Dubai Watch Week has grown from a small regional initiative into one of the most respected global forums for horology.
The 2025 edition marks the 10th anniversary of the event, a milestone that not only reflects its success but also underscores Dubai’s emergence as an international hub for watchmaking culture. Since its inception, Dubai Watch Week has redefined the conversation around timepieces, creating a platform that goes beyond showcasing brands to foster dialogue, education, and appreciation for the art of watchmaking.
At the helm of this journey is Hind Abdul Hamied Seddiqi, CEO of Dubai Watch Week, whose vision has shaped the event into a bridge between tradition and innovation. Through her leadership, the platform has amplified Dubai’s voice on the global horological stage, spotlighted independent watchmakers alongside established maisons, and championed the importance of preserving craftsmanship for future generations. As she prepares to welcome the world to this landmark edition, Seddiqi reflects on the legacy of the past decade, the significance of the anniversary, and her ongoing mission to promote the cultural and artistic value of watchmaking.
Dubai Watch Week continues to grow in scale and significance. What can we expect from the upcoming edition in terms of themes, participating brands, and programming highlights?
The 2025 edition of Dubai Watch Week is an incredibly special moment as it marks the 10th anniversary of the event since we established it in 2015. As the platform continued to grow, we listened to the feedback we were receiving from brands, attendees and partners and sought to evolve our offering.
This led to us moving to a new venue in the heart of the city – Dubai Mall, Burj Park – doubling the size of the event to over 200,000 sq. Ft. surrounded by incredible landmarks in the emirate. Visitors can expect to see over 90 participating brands, with several stand-alone booths dedicated to creating an immersive experience for guests. The Brands Exhibition, which is at the heart of the event, will also feature dedicated spaces for microbrands, ultra-niche brands and clockmakers.
Guests will have access to unique programming formats featuring some incredible sessions with renowned speakers, elevated activations, and curated F&B concepts that highlight Dubai’s homegrown talent.
This is an important moment for us, one that we hope continues to positively influence, inspire and connect the community across the globe.
Since its inception, Dubai Watch Week has evolved tremendously. How would you describe its growth and the broader vision you have for the platform today?
When we launched in 2015, Dubai Watch Week was an intimate event with just 2,500 visitors. Today, it has grown into one of the most anticipated events on the international luxury calendar, welcoming more than 23,000 visitors in 2023. From the beginning, our vision has been to create a platform that celebrates luxury and horology, fosters cross-industry collaboration, and nurtures the next generation of talent and brands. We have remained true to our non-commercial, education-first ethos while constantly evolving the programming to excite new audiences and offer an experience that appeals to everyone. Each edition is viewed as an opportunity to bridge the gap between industries, partners and brands as we collectively unite over our shared passion. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience to receive feedback and hear from attendees about how much they look forward to Dubai Watch Week, and this continues to fuel our goal to create something spectacular in Dubai.
Our aim is to ensure that, whether you’re a seasoned collector or a first-time visitor, there will be unique opportunities for learning, discovery, and connection.
Where, in your opinion, does Dubai now stand on the global horology map, and how has the region’s profile as a luxury watch hub developed in recent years?
Dubai continues to be a global hub for horology, luxury, retail, F&B, and so much more as the Emirate and the nation represent the ultimate destination for guests. We have witnessed a continued demand for horology with collectors in the region and a renewed commitment from brands that view the UAE as an important hub for luxury.
Through Dubai Watch Week, we have created a platform that not only showcases the finest in watchmaking but also gives the local, regional and international community a chance to experience Dubai’s culture, creativity, and ambition firsthand. Through our partnerships with Dubai Culture and the Department of Economy and Tourism, we strive to highlight the Emirate and the UAE in each edition. A big part of this is working with our partners to create experiences that elevates their overall experience on site, and showcases the progress, innovation and hospitality that is true to the UAE.
Looking ahead, what long-term goals do you have for Dubai Watch Week? What do you ultimately hope to achieve with this platform?
When we established Dubai Watch Week, we had a unique vision to build something the watch industry was seeking. We wanted to unite the global industry to celebrate our collective wins and reinforce collaboration. To this day, this remains at the core of our vision. However, as the platform grew, so did our ambition to remain a globally trusted champion for watchmaking in our world.
A big part of this is to incubate new talent and watchmakers, support independent brands, and offer a platform for dialogue that spans generations and geographies. Beyond horology, we see the event as a cultural bridge – a place where creativity, craftsmanship, and community converge. We have witnessed several fruitful collaborations over the years that sprang from conversations that took place at Dubai Watch Week. This exemplifies the importance of the platform and is something we hope to continue to inspire amongst audiences. As an entity ourselves, we are keen to build key initiatives that will preserve and propel the watch industry to new heights and this is something we are currently working towards.
What has been one of the biggest challenges in building or expanding Dubai Watch Week, and how did you or the team overcome it?
Maintaining our identity as a non-commercial, education-driven platform has been instrumental to our offering as we grow in scale and global recognition. The watch industry can often work in silos, and as Dubai Watch Week, we seek to break through this to build a neutral and inclusive space where knowledge sharing and creative exchange come first. We remain committed to our brand partners, event partners and friends in the industry, and we look to them as we create programming that balances heritage with innovation, ensuring every edition feels fresh, while staying true to our founding ethos.
As the industry evolves, how important is it to nurture the next generation of leaders, particularly from the Middle East, and what advice would you offer them?
The world continues to evolve and adapt at a rapid pace – something that we need to be mindful of as we guide our future leaders. With my team, my goal is to create opportunities for their continued learning as they pave the way and encourage them to be curious. I continue to learn from my team, and this inspires me in my day-to-day. Building that foundation together has been extremely rewarding. For future leaders, my advice would be to stay curious, welcome guidance, and embrace both tradition and innovation.
Despite innovation, traditional craftsmanship remains core to the watch industry. Why is it so important to preserve and highlight these artisanal practices today?
Craftsmanship is at the soul of horology – it’s what gives a timepiece meaning beyond function. Preserving these skills keeps the heritage alive while inspiring future generations. At Dubai Watch Week, we highlight these practices through various programming elements, such as hosting masterclasses with artisans, to share with audiences that true artistry will always stand the test of time, and is symbolic of what makes our industry so incredibly poetic and distinctive in its own way.
What is something you haven’t yet accomplished—either personally or professionally—that you would still love to achieve?
Life is all about balance and as things evolve, I am reminded of how important it is to continue to cherish the moments, big and small, nurture relationships and truly take the time to find joy in our everyday lives. Perhaps not something to achieve, but this continues to be my focus personally and professionally.
You’ve built such a strong presence in the UAE. Are there any plans to take Dubai Watch Week or related initiatives beyond the region?
Our travelling editions of Horology Forum have been a tremendous success for the DWW platform and offering. We have taken the format to London, NYC and Hong Kong as we seek to connect with global audiences in previous years. As for what is to come, stay tuned for more announcements at Dubai Watch Week 2025.
