Part of our complete guide to Fashion in the UAE.
The next Dubai Watch Week is scheduled for 17–21 November 2027 at Dubai Mall, Burj Park. The organiser has announced those dates on its official channels. There is no separate 2026 edition: Dubai Watch Week is biennial. The seventh edition took place on 19–23 November 2025, marking ten years of the event and 75 years of Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons. This guide separates that completed edition from what is confirmed for the next one, then explains how to plan a useful visit.
The organiser’s current announcement confirms 17–21 November 2027 at Dubai Mall, Burj Park. The dates and location are the planning anchors; I would not book a trip around an assumed speaker or launch. The organiser also announces travelling programmes, including Horology Forum 12 in Mumbai at India Watch Weekend 2027. That is a separate location and programme, not a Burj Park session or a substitute for Dubai registration. The organiser’s website currently presents its 2025 speaker and session pages. Those archive pages are not confirmation of the 2027 programme or a booking.
I would go for the people and the craft, not a shopping trophy. Give me one maker who can explain a design decision over ten hurried photographs of display cases. My plan would pair a talk with time to follow its ideas on the exhibition floor, while leaving a gap for an unfamiliar independent. A tightly packed checklist is the quickest way to miss the interesting conversation.
Image note: the retained hero visibly carries #DWW2021. It is archive imagery, not a photograph of the announced 2027 Burj Park venue.
My three priorities for a worthwhile visit
- Learn one thing properly. Choose a topic you want explained, then ask a maker how it affects a specific watch rather than stopping at the marketing name.
- Compare like with like. Record an exact reference and the facts behind the claim. A different dial, movement and case size can turn a superficially similar watch into a different proposition.
- Leave room for a surprise. I would sacrifice one familiar brand stop for an independent I do not already follow. Discovery is a better use of the day than repeating a social-media feed.
The comparison card I would keep on my phone
| Record | Ask | Why I care |
|---|---|---|
| Exact brand and reference | Is this the displayed model, a prototype or a different orderable version? | A launch name alone is too vague for a later comparison |
| Case diameter, thickness and lug-to-lug | May I try it on, if handling is permitted? | A headline diameter alone does not tell me how the case will sit |
| Movement and functions | What does this mechanism do that a simpler alternative does not? | I want a reason for the complexity, not just a list of terms |
| Quoted price and included charges | Is there a written order, delivery estimate and deposit policy? | A display and a confirmed purchase are different things |
| Service and warranty contact | Who handles the watch locally, and what is actually covered? | The relationship continues after the launch excitement |
This is my comparison framework, not a record of watches handled or appointments secured. It works for an exploratory visit as well as a possible purchase; there is no need to make a buying decision on the exhibition floor.
The 2025 Milestone and the Next Edition
Founded in 2015 by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, Dubai Watch Week was created as an educational platform for sharing watchmaking knowledge and connecting collectors, brands and craftspeople. Its organiser describes the event as biennial. The tenth-anniversary milestone therefore belongs to 2025, not a supposed 2026 edition. That distinction is important when comparing announcements, exhibition images and older guides: the same event name can appear beside different venues and years.
The Dubai Government Media Office’s contemporary report records more than 90 brands in 2025, free public attendance and registration. It also places the tenth anniversary and Ahmed Seddiqi’s 75th-anniversary Collector’s Lounge in that completed edition. Those facts explain the earlier programme; they do not establish the 2027 exhibitors, price or access terms.
Burj Park: The Venue and Planning Context
The move to Burj Park was part of the 2025 edition, replacing the event’s earlier DIFC setting. It is not a new relocation taking place in 2026. The organiser’s 2027 announcement again identifies Dubai Mall, Burj Park. When you plan the next visit, use its new site map and access instructions rather than relying on gate names, workshop locations or parking information from a previous edition.
Archive workshop photograph, not a confirmed 2027 class or booking.
Getting to the correct Burj Park entrance
The Burj Park setting places the event in Downtown Dubai, beside The Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa. The 2025 edition used a purpose-built campus for exhibitions and educational programming. That gives visitors a useful reference for the environment, but the layout can change. Confirm the entrance, accessibility arrangements and session location from the programme for the edition you are attending.
Plan your route to the announced entrance, not merely to a map pin for the mall. If arriving by Metro, account for the walk from the station through the Downtown area; if using a taxi or car, check the event’s designated drop-off and parking information. Build a gap between booked sessions so a queue or a conversation does not make the rest of the day impossible. Evening plans should also allow for traffic around the mall.
A concrete example of the learning opportunity—not a 2027 booking
The GPHG Foundation’s dated 20 November 2025 announcement describes around twenty award-winning watches on display with an expert watchmaker, plus a discussion about the significance of an award. That programme is over. It illustrates a much better question for a future visit than “what can I buy?”: what does an award recognise, and can someone explain the relevant work on the watch itself?
I would build a visit around that connection between an object and an explanation. Compare the award category, the specific reference and the maker’s account of the mechanism or finish. A prize is not a guarantee of resale performance, personal comfort or suitability for your budget. This is a way to interrogate a future programme—not a promise that GPHG will repeat that display in 2027.
What I would ask about a new release
The watches are a reason to visit, but specific 2027 launches are not established by this guide. Use announcements from each brand to distinguish a new reference from a different dial, a regional edition or a prototype. Ask whether the watch on display is available to order, how allocation works and what its confirmed price includes. An exhibition appearance is not a promise that every attendee can buy one.
Exhibition is not checkout. The organiser’s purchasing FAQ, checked on 28 October 2026, describes Dubai Watch Week as a non-commercial event with no on-site trade and directs buyers to Ahmed Seddiqi’s retail network. Treat our comparison card as questions for learning and a later retailer enquiry, not instructions to place an order at a stand. If buying is part of your trip, plan a separate boutique conversation about the exact reference, availability, final price, deposit and delivery terms. Recheck the rules for the edition you attend; the currently displayed 2025 programme is not a confirmed 2027 sales or booking process.
Major houses: start with the exact reference
The 2025 programme included established houses and independent makers, with displays spanning many watchmaking approaches. For 2027, wait for the published exhibitor list before making brand-specific plans. Use your shortlist to compare finishing, case dimensions, movements and design choices across makers, rather than spending the whole day chasing whichever launch has the loudest publicity. A technical question often makes a better conversation opener than a request for an allocation.
For Audemars Piguet, distinguish the Royal Oak “Jumbo”, chronograph and Concept families before comparing anniversary pieces. Different models have different movements and functions; a familiar case shape does not establish that a watch combines a flyback chronograph and a flying tourbillon. Start with the exact reference on display and its official specifications. Our 150th-anniversary guide provides separate collection context.
Celebrating 75 Years: The Seddiqi & Sons Exclusives
Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons’ 75th anniversary was celebrated in 2025. The region-specific watches associated with that milestone belong to the completed programme and should not be advertised as upcoming 2026 releases. They remain useful examples of why local collectors follow the event: a retailer relationship can produce a particular edition, dial or allocation that differs from a brand’s standard international collection.
When studying a retailer-exclusive watch, check the exact reference, edition size, case material and movement. A small production run does not make every example a sound investment. Ask where it can be serviced, whether accessories and papers are included, and how any allocation or order process works. Historical Seddiqi anniversary releases are context for that comparison, not evidence that the same pieces will be available in a 2027 Collector’s Lounge.
Illustrative wristwatch photograph, not evidence of a 2027 release, allocation or authenticated reference.
Talks and workshops: where I would spend my time
The educational programme is the part I would prioritise. A useful session should leave me able to explain something I could not explain before—not simply give me another photograph for my phone. I would choose the subject first and the famous name second.
Horology Forum: choose the question, not just the speaker
The Horology Forum and other conversations are part of the event’s educational appeal. Speaker names and opening-keynote details from 2025 should be treated as archive information, not promises for 2027. Read the new session description before choosing: a talk about craft, collecting or business can answer very different questions. Choose the topic that will add to what you already know rather than simply the most famous name.
I would take one precise question from a panel into a later exhibitor conversation. If a speaker makes a claim about finishing, for example, ask a maker to explain the relevant process on a specific reference. That turns an abstract discussion into a comparison you can understand. Confirm access and booking rules for the actual session; a panel listing is not a reserved place.
Masterclasses: choose the task you want to understand
Masterclasses provide a different kind of access from walking past display cases. The completed 2025 programme included practical craft sessions, but it does not establish the next edition’s subjects, instructors or capacity. Read any 2027 booking conditions closely: the session duration, age requirements, materials, access arrangements and cancellation rules all matter. A public event can still have separately booked workshops with limited places.
I would choose a practical introductory task over an advanced session full of terminology I cannot yet follow. For an experienced collector, the reverse may be true. Read what participants actually do, who teaches it and whether the level fits. A workshop earns its place in my day when it offers a process or explanation I cannot get from a product description.
Workshop registration must follow the organiser’s instructions for the relevant edition. Joining a mailing list is useful for announcements, but it is not a booking and does not reserve a seat. Once a programme is published, save your confirmation and session details. If a session is full, choose another relevant activity rather than assuming admission can be arranged at the door.
Frequently Asked Questions: Dubai Watch Week
When and where is the next Dubai Watch Week?
The next announced edition is 17–21 November 2027 at Dubai Mall, Burj Park. The previous edition ran 19–23 November 2025. There is no separate 2026 edition.
Is Dubai Watch Week open to the public? How do I get tickets?
The 2025 edition was free and open to the public with registration, according to the Dubai Government Media Office. Confirm 2027 admission and separate workshop booking conditions from the organiser; older terms do not establish the next edition’s rules.
What is the dress code for the event?
A formal 2027 dress policy was not verified in this check. I would choose comfortable smart-casual clothes and shoes for walking, then follow any specific rules for a booked session or private invitation.
Archive venue photograph
Archive event entrance at the DIFC Gate, not directions to the announced Burj Park venue.
My verdict: go to learn, not to collect logos
I would put Dubai Watch Week on the calendar for access to watchmaking ideas, not a promised allocation. That is its strongest appeal for a newcomer as well as a collector. A carefully chosen introductory session and a conversation with a maker sound far more worthwhile to me than racing through every stand. Plan from the announced 2027 dates and the programme when available; the 2025 lineup is history, not the next schedule.
My simplest plan would be one confirmed session, a short list of makers and an unbooked stretch for discovery. Save the exact references and answers, not only photographs. If buying is the aim, take the written terms away and compare them calmly. I would rather leave with one clear insight than a rushed purchase and a bag of brochures.
Follow the organiser for programme and registration announcements, then make travel and session plans from those confirmed details. There is no live 2026 countdown to catch and no reason to rush into a booking based on an old guide. The strongest preparation is a clear question, an accurate date and enough time to explore the craft.
For current programme and access details, use Dubai Watch Week’s official website. The historical examples above refer to 2025; they are not a confirmed exhibitor or speaker list for 2027.
Sources and review scope
Reviewed 19 October 2026 against the organiser’s current public LinkedIn announcement and contemporary Dubai Government Media Office report. The main event site was blocked during retrieval; this is not a verified complete 2027 schedule. On 21 October the organiser’s public announcement was rechecked, the GPHG Foundation’s two-page 2025 release read, and another calendar’s date/access treatment compared. The official site again could not be retrieved, and the Media Office page failed direct retrieval; its earlier context was not represented as a freshly tested 2027 registration route. The comparison card and visit priorities are editorial planning recommendations, not attendance or watch-testing claims. Three body images and the hero were viewed and preserved, with archive locations distinguished.
