There are so many second-rate exhibitions across our region, supposedly geared towards the luxury sector, that for a while we blanket banned them all. These, however, are the ones we will be attending.
Doha's Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DJWE) has become the biggest and most important jewellery fair in the region, with strong participation by the biggest global houses along with a huge roster of lesser-known emerging brands. Something we are looking forward to this year is a more prominent male focus, particularly in terms of watches, and there will be improvements in a number of areas such as special VIP viewing rooms, workshops and free on-the-spot gem certification by the GIA.
It is fair to say that, after 24 years, the Dubai International Boat Show has become an institution in the marine leisure industry. This year will see the participation of 430 boats and over 800 exhibitors, with a new lifestyle element added to the programme that includes sailing trips, water sport demonstrations and first-time-ever on-yacht dining experiences.
Photomed is a festival that celebrates the beauty of the Mediterranean. Some of the highlights of this year's event in Beirut include a much larger Spanish participation, with works curated by Fernando Perracho, as well as a tribute to Leila Alaoui, the French-Moroccan photographer who was tragically killed in January in a terrorist attack in Burkina Faso.
