IWC Schaffhausen unveils the new Portugieser Chronograph (Ref. IW3716) in Abu Dhabi, featuring Eastern Arabic numerals and ten vibrant dial colours.
Key Takeaways
- IWC Schaffhausen launched the IWC Arabic-Dial Portugieser Chronograph (Ref. IW3716) with Eastern Arabic numerals, unveiled in Abu Dhabi.
- Launch coverage reports ten dial colours and the manufacture 69355 calibre with a 46-hour reserve. That is a specification, not a comparative reliability test.
- Our reading is that the Eastern Arabic numerals give the design a regional identity; this is editorial interpretation, not evidence of a market-wide change.
- The new model differs from the earlier Dubai Edition in technical specifications and offers broader color options.
- Launch coverage reports four watchmaking workshops alongside the unveiling.
Eastern Arabic numerals are the reason to stop and look at this Portugieser. The buying decision goes deeper than the dial, though: the newer Arabic-dial model and the earlier Dubai charity edition are not the same watch. I’d start by identifying the full reference, then compare the movement, strap and actual condition. “Arabic dial” is a design description, not a complete specification.
My watch verdict: the dial starts the conversation
The regional typography is the attraction; the exact watch has to justify the purchase. I’d choose the colour I can read comfortably and the strap I will wear, rather than treating a small difference in case diameter or power reserve as proof of a better watch. For the older Dubai edition, service history and condition deserve serious attention. The historical comparison below keeps the two purchases distinct.
For different budgets and designs, compare Casio’s Arabic-dial collection and Omega’s Speedmaster 38mm. Neither is a substitute for checking the exact IWC reference.
The Abu Dhabi unveiling: what was actually reported
A&E’s 21 September launch report places the unveiling at Manarat Al Saadiyat on 20 September 2026 during the Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries. Our reading is that Eastern Arabic numerals across the dial and totalisers give the watch a more specific regional identity than a standard international model with a changed colour. That is an editorial interpretation of the design, not proof of a universal shift in how every luxury brand treats the Middle East. The actual date, venue and product remain the useful starting points.
The unveiling was accompanied by practical engagement, with IWC hosting four watchmaking workshops as part of the Congress ACI Professional Capacity Building Programme. These sessions allowed participants to disassemble and reassemble a mechanical movement, providing a hands-on look at the precision required in mechanical watchmaking.
Design Details: Eastern Arabic Numerals and Ten Colours
The most immediate distinction of the Ref. IW3716 is the integration of Eastern Arabic numerals. Contemporary launch coverage describes the numerals across the main dial and chronograph totalisers, with a luminescent finish. That specification is reported rather than the result of a WHIUAE low-light test. The earlier Dubai edition also used Eastern Arabic numerals; the comparison below separates the references instead of treating regional typography as a 2026 invention.
Housed in a 41mm stainless steel case, the watch offers significant variety for collectors. Launch coverage lists ten dial colours; this is not confirmation that all ten are in UAE boutiques today:
- Slate
- Olive
- Sage
- Purple
- Aubergine
- Mauve
- Pink
- Sunburst
- Ginger
- Ice
Depending on the chosen colourway, the watch is completed with either a coordinating alligator-leather or a rubber strap. While the specific retail price for the UAE market and the exact boutique availability for all ten colours have not been confirmed, the design maintains the classic Portugieser architecture, including the stopped minutes at 12 o’clock and small seconds at 6 o’clock.
Technical Heart: The Manufacture 69355 Calibre
The watch’s reported 69355 is an automatic chronograph with column-wheel control and a 46-hour power reserve. Contemporary launch coverage gives those specifications for this release. The calibre is already part of IWC’s manufacture movement family; it should not be described as a new movement invented for the 2026 Arabic dial. Compare the complete reference and its current technical sheet before buying.
IWC’s 2020 Portugieser announcement already lists a 46-hour reserve and column-wheel construction for the 69355. That describes a fully wound movement, not indefinite running while the watch is off your wrist. For a collector rotating several watches, winding and resetting remain practical ownership tasks. Our preference is to compare dial readability and the strap you will actually wear before choosing among colours solely from launch photographs.
The weekend test that matters more to me than two extra hours
A 46-hour reserve is not a full weekend from Friday evening to Monday morning. On the stated figure, a fully wound watch set aside at 6pm on Friday reaches 46 hours at 4pm on Sunday. The older edition’s stated 44 hours reaches 2pm on Sunday. That is a calculation from the published reserves, not a timing test of either watch, and an incompletely wound example can stop earlier.
For a watch I plan to rotate with others, that puts the two-hour difference in perspective: neither stated reserve gets this Friday-to-Monday routine over the line. I would choose the dial and fit I actually want and accept the winding-and-resetting routine. A tiny numerical win is not a reason to buy the wrong colour.
What I would ask to see before choosing
I would compare the hour numerals, hands and two totalisers in ordinary indoor light, not just a brightly lit launch photograph. Ask to see the stopwatch start, stop and reset demonstrated, then check that the quoted reference, dial colour and strap match the watch being offered. For a pre-owned IW371489, request dated service documents and a condition assessment of that particular example. These are buying checks I recommend, not handling sessions or accuracy tests I have carried out.
How It Differs From the Earlier Dubai Edition
It is important to distinguish this new release from the earlier Portugieser Chronograph Edition “Seddiqi – Al Jalila Foundation Dubai” (Ref. IW371489). While both models incorporate Eastern Arabic numerals, they differ significantly in technical specification and availability.
| Feature | New Arabic-Dial Portugieser (Ref. IW3716) | Dubai Edition (Ref. IW371489) |
|---|---|---|
| Movement | Manufacture 69355 calibre | IWC calibre 79350 (based on Valjoux 7750) |
| Case Size | 41mm | 40.9mm |
| Stated power reserve | 46 hours (launch-reported) | 44 hours (IWC archive) |
| Availability | Ten colours reported at launch; local stock unconfirmed | Limited to 200 pieces |
The Al Jalila Foundation’s 2017 executive report records the earlier 200-piece edition, its partnership with Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons and a donation from each sale. IWC’s archive for IW371489 gives its 40.9mm diameter, 79350 automatic calibre and 44-hour reserve. The newer release is reported at 41mm with a 46-hour reserve: differences of 0.1mm and two hours on those figures. Neither number demonstrates better accuracy, greater reliability or an investment return. For a pre-owned Dubai edition, documented condition and service history still matter more than treating “newer” as a complete buying argument.
For a UAE boutique enquiry, give the full model reference and ask about colour, strap, local stock, written AED quote and service terms. IW3716 is not sufficient to identify every configuration. Keep the newer Arabic-dial release separate from the earlier IW371489 charity edition when comparing listings, especially a pre-owned example. Similar typography does not mean the same movement, production history or condition.
