Where the Desert Meets Horology — Dubai Watch Week 2025
Some events mark a moment. Others mark a decade. Dubai Watch Week 2025 did both at once.
The 7th edition of Dubai Watch Week returned from November 19 to 23, 2025, at a new and expanded venue: Burj Park, Dubai Mall — doubling its footprint to 200,000 square feet, welcoming over 90 brands, speakers, and experiences. Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the event reinforced Dubai's position as a global hub for horology and luxury — following what the official DWW website described as "record-breaking growth, increased global reach, and unmatched brand presence."
Hosted by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons — the Middle East's most respected name in luxury watch retail, founded in 1950 and celebrating its own 75th anniversary in 2025 — and led by Hind Seddiqi, CEO of Dubai Watch Week, the event brought together an extraordinary roster: from major Maisons to emerging names, artisans, and independent watchmakers. The entire physical infrastructure of Dubai Watch Week 2025, as the official DWW editorial confirmed, was built in just six weeks.
Entry to Dubai Watch Week remains free and open to the public with registration. The event welcomed 23,000 visitors in 2023. The 2025 edition, with its doubled space and record brand count, surpassed that benchmark entirely.
A Decade of Vision, a New Stage
Founded 10 years ago in 2015 by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons and organised on a biennial schedule, Dubai Watch Week has grown into one of the most important events on the global watch industry calendar — exclusive, relaxed, experiential, entertaining and educational at the same time.
As Hind Seddiqi, CEO of Dubai Watch Week, stated ahead of the 2025 edition: "We are incredibly excited to welcome guests to a new and bigger venue for the 7th edition as we celebrate 10 years since our establishment in 2015. Our goal is to create a memorable experience for guests by refreshing our programming concepts and curating activations that will continue to inspire the industry and visitors from across the world."
Even on the first day of the show, Hind Seddiqi made clear that the vision for Dubai Watch Week extends well beyond a single edition — sharing her ambition to evolve the platform into a year-round global presence, including new initiatives such as an advisory committee and a forthcoming DWW x CxG White Paper.
The new Burj Park setting, as watchesbysjx.com observed, transformed a strip of waterfront into a miniature city, complete with large air-conditioned structures, full-service restaurants, and a visual identity befitting a major international fair. Step outside at night and the laser shows of the Burj Khalifa reflected across the lake — an unmistakably Dubai backdrop.
Hublot: A Double Anniversary, Two Watches That Tell the Story
Of all the moments at Dubai Watch Week 2025, few carried more meaning than what took place at the Hublot booth on November 20.
As the official Hublot press release published by Worldtempus confirmed: "Hublot proudly returns to the 7th edition of Dubai Watch Week, celebrating two significant milestones: 20 years of the iconic Big Bang collection and the 75th anniversary of Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, Hublot's longstanding regional partner. Dubai Watch Week, a global celebration of watchmaking and creativity at the heart of the region's horological culture, provides the perfect platform to honour this shared legacy."
To mark both milestones, Hublot and Seddiqi unveiled two exclusive limited editions created specifically for the occasion — the Hublot Big Bang All Black Ahmed Seddiqi 75th Anniversary and the Hublot Big Bang Titanium Grey Ahmed Seddiqi 75th Anniversary. As the official press release confirmed, each timepiece embodies Hublot's bold design language and Seddiqi's timeless legacy, featuring Arabic numerals that honour the region's heritage and a custom oscillating weight engraved with Seddiqi's 75th anniversary logo.
The Big Bang All Black, limited to 10 pieces, is crafted in full black ceramic with a 4N 22-karat gold oscillating weight, representing Hublot's "invisible visibility" philosophy. The Big Bang Titanium Grey, limited to 25 pieces, balances exclusivity with a polished and satin-finished titanium case. Both models house the HUB1280 Unico self-winding flyback chronograph movement with a 72-hour power reserve — the same calibre found across the Big Bang Unico collection and the 20th anniversary limited editions launched at Watches & Wonders 2025. On both Seddiqi editions, the gold rotor is fashioned from 4N 22-karat gold and engraved with "Ahmed Seddiqi 75th Anniversary".
The reveal took place in the presence of Julien Tornare, CEO of Hublot, and Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi, CEO of Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, alongside guests from the media and the watch community.
Tornare commented: "Dubai Watch Week perfectly reflects Hublot's innovative spirit and our deep connection with the region's collectors and connoisseurs."
Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi added: "Collaborating with Hublot on these special editions for Dubai Watch Week's 7th edition has been a remarkable experience. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to innovation, design, and excellence — creating timepieces that resonate with collectors across the region. Together, we continue to push the boundaries of watchmaking while celebrating a decade of Dubai Watch Week as a platform for horological creativity and inspiration."
The Horology Forum: Where the Industry Thinks Aloud
Stationed at the House of Horology, the Horology Forum returned for its 11th edition with a stellar lineup and brand-new formats.
The standout of the week, as watchesbysjx.com confirmed, was the appearance of Jean-Frédéric Dufour, CEO of Rolex— a genuine rarity given how seldom he speaks publicly. His conversation with Seddiqi Holding Chairman Abdul Hamied Seddiqi offered more insight into the inner workings of Rolex than has been heard in years, reaffirming the brand's long-term belief in silicon movements and their future in fine watchmaking.
The CEO roundtable featured Ilaria Resta of Audemars Piguet, Georges Kern of Breitling, Julien Tornare of Hublot, and Karl-Friedrich Scheufele of Chopard — four leaders whose collective decisions shape the direction of the entire industry. Topics ranged from tariffs and macroeconomic volatility to the need for long-term thinking in an uncertain period. Also notable: a Louis Vuitton Watch Prize panel featuring Jean Arnault, Mohammed Seddiqi, and Raúl Pagès, moderated by SJX — focused on independent watchmaking as an artistic pursuit and the importance of personal connection over market consensus.
Notable figures attending the event included His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai — further confirming the stature that Dubai Watch Week has achieved under Hind Seddiqi's leadership.
A City That Thinks in Decades
The mood at Dubai Watch Week 2025 was, as watchesbysjx.com reported, decidedly upbeat. Despite a challenging market environment, the energy at Burj Park suggested a resilient and forward-looking industry. More than 90 brands — from the world's most revered Maisons to the boldest independent ateliers — occupied a space that felt closer to a curated cultural district than a trade fair. Standalone spaces confirmed by Monochrome-Watches included Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Tudor, Van Cleef & Arpels, Hublot, Chopard, Ferdinand Berthoud, Breitling, Girard-Perregaux, Bvlgari, TAG Heuer, Chanel, and Gerald Charles.
For Hublot — with a standalone booth, two exclusive limited-edition launches, and its CEO present on the floor — Dubai Watch Week 2025 was a declaration of commitment to this region and its collectors. As the official press release concluded: "The Big Bang Seddiqi 75th Anniversary editions are more than commemorative timepieces; they celebrate 20 years of the Big Bang's revolutionary design while honouring the cultural heritage of the Middle East. These editions reaffirm Hublot's commitment to the region, demonstrating how the brand continues to push the boundaries of contemporary watchmaking while creating timepieces that resonate with collectors worldwide."
In a year that began in Geneva and ended in Dubai, the message from Hublot was consistent: the most important conversations in watchmaking are happening now — and they are happening here.