Staging more exhibitions key to priming Qatar as tourism haven, says Ali Alfardan

Organising more exhibitions and events in the country will play an integral role in priming Qatar as a global tourist destination, according to Ali Alfardan, vice chairman of the Alfardan Group and president of Alfardan Jewellery."Organising different types of exhibitions is part of the State’s plan to transform Qatar into a premier tourism destination in the region. After the World Cup and all the infrastructure that has been built, we need to get busy with different events to help spur economic development,” Alfardan told Gulf Times during a press conference Sunday.He announced key points about the upcoming and highly-anticipated 19th Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DJWE), which will be held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) from February 20 to 25.

"We need a lot of exhibitions in Doha and DJWE is one of those events that would help attract more tourists to Qatar. Events, such as the jewellery exhibition and the classic cars exhibition, for example, are very important to enhance tourists’ experience while visiting the country,” Alfardan explained.

According to Alfardan, DJWE’s reputation is growing consistently worldwide based on the number of participating jewellery companies. This year’s exhibition has an exceedingly high number of major brands joining DJWE, he said, adding that about a dozen companies are still on the waiting list and could not be accommodated."Due to the high number of companies wanting to join DJWE, we have asked Qatar Tourism Chairman and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar al-Baker to expand next year’s exhibition to have a mezzanine added to the event to accommodate more participants, as well as more facilities to enhance the booths and pavilions,” he said.Alfardan said, "I consider DJWE as the biggest exhibition in the world – even bigger than SIHH (Salon International De La Haute Horlogerie) because many of the companies participating in DWJE are not joining SIHH."And as al-Baker had said, there are over 500 companies participating in DJWE, including Franck Muller and Tiffany’s, which are not in SIHH,” Alfardan emphasised.In this year’s exhibition, Alfardan Jewellery will feature several high-class brands under its portfolio, such as Chopard, Tiffany, Vacheron Constatin, Marli, Sartoro, Girard-Perregaux, Noudar, Franck Muller, Chaumet, Persee Paris, Yeprem, and Corum."Once again, Alfardan Jewellery will exhibit an unparalleled collection at the 19th edition of the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition, highlighting unique and elegant gems and pieces, even from our very own Qatari brand. We thank all our customers and visitors for their encouragement as always,” he said.For 18 years, DJWE has been the go-to, exclusive, high-profile gathering for jewellery aficionados, global brands, and aspiring designers. And in 2023, it will continue to be the heart of glamour, where exclusivity, beauty, art, legacy, and unique artistry will intertwine under one roof with almost 60 Alfardan Jewellery brands represented.Unparalleled quality and sophistication are the hallmarks of Alfardan Jewellery, which has been trusted by generations. Alfardan Jewellery is a pioneer in the region for holding the exclusive jewellery and watches exhibition for the first time in 1977. It eventually became a public event in 2003 where the world’s finest designers gathered in the region to feature their best works.