The 56th Watch & Jewellery Middle East Show in Sharjah opened its doors with a dazzling spectacle: the unveiling of the “Dubai Dress,” a gown crafted entirely from 21karat gold that has earned an official Guinness World Records certificate as the world’s heaviest gold dress.

Weighing 10.0812 kilograms and valued at AED 4.6 million, the piece was showcased by Al Romaizan Gold & Jewellery as the marquee attraction of the event. The “Dubai Dress” is composed of four principal elements: a gold crown, a necklace, earrings, and a “Hiyar” piece.

The opening ceremony, held at Expo Centre Sharjah, was attended by dignitaries including Abdallah Sultan Al Owais (Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry) and Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah. Visitors toured the sprawling 30,000 sqm exhibition space filled with luxury watches, gold, diamond, and gemstone collections.

Besides the record-setting dress, the expo also highlights participation from over 500 exhibitors and 1,800 designers, representing global jewellery and watch markets. New exhibitors from nations such as Australia, Myanmar, and Pakistan joined established players from Italy, India, Türkiye, China, the UK, and the U.S.

According to show organizers, more than 68 percent of the exhibitors come from outside the UAE, underscoring the event’s international pull.

In his remarks, Al Owais emphasized the expo’s role in reinforcing Sharjah and the UAE as global hubs for gold and jewellery trade, and praised the platform for empowering Emirati designers under the “Emirati Goldsmiths” initiative. For his part, Midfa described the show as a key gateway for industry players to present innovations, foster partnerships, and expand their footprint in the Middle Eastern jewellery market.

As visitors file in over the coming days, many are expected to be drawn first to the shimmering “Dubai Dress” before exploring the broader showcase of high-end jewellery, timepieces, and creative masterpieces on display.