MidEast Watch and Jewellery Show attracts over 39,500 visitors; Exhibitor bookings start pouring in for next edition of the Show in Oct. this year The curtains came down on the 22nd MidEast Watch and Jewellery Show at Expo Centre Sharjah on April 29, 2007. The five-day event attracted a total of 39,604 visitors from across the Middle East. The rush of visitors was particularly overwhelming on April 28 and 29, the last two days of the show. More than 18,000 visitors came on these days. The just concluded MidEast Watch and Jewellery show had featured over 350 master jewellers including a host of well known names including UAE-based Salem Al Shuebi, Al Anwaar, Damas, Dhamani, Shattaf Jewellers, Jovial Watches, Amwaj, Thailand-based Gems Beam, Kunming Gems, Su Raj Inter Gold, India-based Dialmaz, Durga Gems, Shreya Gems & Jewels, and Singapore-based Taka Jewellery, and Royal King. Among the countries from which a majority of the exhibitors participated in the show were Bahrain, Hong Kong – China, India, Italy, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Turkey, and the UAE. The national pavilions from Hong Kong – China, India, Italy, Thailand, and Singapore were also major head turners. Exhibits included diamonds, precious stones, loose pearls, gold and diamond jewellery, diamond and pearl sets, and watches. Almost all exhibitors expressed satisfaction with the visitor turnout and the response received during the show. Several reported concluding high value sales at the event. A large number of participants at the show felt that events like the MidEast Watch and Jewellery Show, besides allowing jewellers to focus on high net worth individuals, also helped improve their brand awareness and face to face interaction with customers. Others were of the opinion that such shows provided the opportunity to display unique items. The contentment of the exhibitors can be gauged from the fact that many of them have already started booking space for the next edition of the show, scheduled to be held at Expo Centre Sharjah from October 24-28, 2007. The MidEast Watch and Jewellery Show has an exhibitor retention rate of over 90%, one of the highest in the region. The 23rd edition will be certainly bigger in terms of exhibition space. It will occupy four halls of Expo Centre Sharjah measuring 16,000 sq. m. Going by the overwhelming response received at the last edition, it is expected to be significantly larger in terms of number of exhibitors too. The MidEast Watch and Jewellery Show is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. It is an initiative of Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and the World Gold Council (WGC).