A Legacy of Lustre: Jewellery Arabia Cements Bahrain’s Place on the Global Jewellery Map

Coming back to Bahrain each year for Jewellery Arabia has become a constant in my calendar. Over the past five years, my annual visit has turned into a cherished ritual – one I always look forward to – where I witness not only the evolution of a jewellery fair, but the steady, confident growth of an entire luxury ecosystem around it.

If the 2025 edition demonstrated the scale Jewellery Arabia has already achieved, the 2026 event will push that evolution even further. Organisers have announced the addition of two new halls, expanding the exhibition footprint to more than 60,000 square metres and welcoming an even broader international line-up of jewellers, watchmakers and designers.

Held under the continued and esteemed patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, this year’s exhibition felt like a real milestone. The scale alone was impressive: 56,848 visitors from 29 countries gathered at Exhibition World Bahrain, discovering the work of 657 exhibitors across jewellery and fragrance halls. But beyond the numbers, what struck me most was the atmosphere. Jewellery Arabia has quickly become a global convocation of jewellery lovers, designers, collectors and admirers, drawing an increasingly international audience to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

New Voices, New Energy

One of the clearest signs of Jewellery Arabia’s growing confidence is the way it continues to attract fresh talent. As Mr. Mohammed Ebrahim, General Manager of Informa Bahrain, noted, expansion remains central to the fair’s vision, and this year, more than 85 new brands joined the exhibitor list. You could feel that momentum immediately – there was a real sense of discovery in the air.

Among the debuts, several stood out. Carrera y Carrera arrived from Spain with their sculptural gold creations. Manish Malhotra’s couture jewellery felt perfectly at home too, seamlessly echoing the designer’s celebrated fashion language. From the United States, Piranesi introduced their timeless designs centred around the four most coveted gemstones, bringing a sense of classic refinement into the mix.

What I particularly enjoyed this year was seeing newer, more niche designers exhibiting alongside established names – a reminder that Jewellery Arabia has become an important launchpad for a wide spectrum of creative voices.

Mrs. Marquise from India presented striking, avant-garde designs set with large rubellites, emeralds and briolette diamonds that demanded attention. Mariyeh Gelichkhaani, travelling from Dubai, filled her stand with colour and artistic expression; her jewelled boat sculpture became an instant conversation starter. Italian intaglio master Amedeo Scognamiglio brought his cocktail rings, earrings and bracelets from Capri, introducing visitors to the Italian tradition of hand-carved intaglios, a meticulous craft with roots in classical antiquity.

Together, their presence reinforced Jewellery Arabia’s role as a meeting point for both established names and specialised, craft-led design.

The Bahraini Pearl: A Living Heritage

Amid the global energy of Jewellery Arabia, I always find myself drawn back to one story in particular: the Bahraini pearl. For many visitors, me included, it is inseparable from the identity of the Bahraini archipelago.

Long before Bahrain became a centre for finance, culture and luxury, its waters were known for producing natural pearls of exceptional quality. Each one forms without human intervention, created entirely by time and chance. That rarity is what gives Bahraini pearls their authority. In a world dominated by cultured pearls, they remain an increasingly scarce reminder of how jewellery once came into being – slowly, unpredictably and entirely at nature’s discretion.

That connection becomes tangible at the Danat Institute, which I visit every year during Jewellery Arabia. Beyond offering on-site jewellery certification, Danat hosts live pearl-opening demonstrations – always a powerful experience. Visitors from all over the world queue patiently, watching each shell being opened in the hope of discovering a natural pearl inside. The sense of anticipation is collective, particularly among those who understand how rare a natural pearl truly is.

This respect for heritage extends naturally to the local jewellers at the fair, who I see as the modern custodians of the pearl tradition. Three Bahraini brands specialising in pearls stood out this year for very different reasons. At Al Mahmood Pearls, I encountered a remarkable nine-row necklace of perfectly matched natural pearls – a piece that took 31 years to assemble. Seeing it in person brought home the scale of the patience involved.

At Mattar Jewellers, the approach is lighter and more playful. Pearls appear not only on jewels but also on exquisitely crafted handbags, and I find myself stopping by their stand every year to see the latest interpretation.

This year, I also spent time with Pearl Biography. The stand was so busy, I was quickly ushered into the VIP area, where I was shown a private selection created for special clients. These were exceptional pieces: large natural saltwater pearls – baroque, round and drop-shaped – set into Art Deco-inspired brooches, as well as rings and drop earrings.

New for 2025: ‘The Suite’ Lounge

This year, pearls extended beyond the showcases and into the atmosphere of the fair. ‘The Suite’, a new invite-only VIP lounge for Diamond-tier visitors, offered a place to step away from the pace of the exhibition.

Designed as a more contained space between appointments, the lounge featured around a dozen tables, each with a simple centrepiece of pearls and shells — a direct reference to Bahrain’s maritime history.

A Dialogue Between Heritage and Avant-Garde

One of the strengths of Jewellery Arabia is its ability to hold different design languages in the same space. While I was drawn repeatedly to pearls and their sense of continuity, elsewhere the fair was dominated by colour and innovation.

A single gemstone caught my eye immediately: the Paraíba tourmaline, its distinctive, swimming-pool blue instantly recognisable. After spotting it first in Al Zain Jewellery’s advertising throughout the halls, I headed to the Bahraini brand’s beautiful salon to discover its Arabic Deco collection novelties featuring these rare gems.

Another highlight was Al Zain’s ‘Gem Bar’, an interactive space where clients are invited to begin a bespoke design process by selecting their own loose stones. It’s a concept that brilliantly marries personalisation with high jewellery.

Once Paraíba tourmaline was on my radar, I started noticing it elsewhere. Two cocktail rings caught my attention – one at Alexander Laut, the other at A2Z Advisory – both set with Brazilian Paraíbas, now among the most difficult stones to source.

Looking Ahead to 2026

If the 2025 edition demonstrated the scale Jewellery Arabia has already achieved, the 2026 event will push that evolution even further. Organisers have announced the addition of two new halls, expanding the exhibition footprint to more than 60,000 square metres and welcoming an even broader international line-up of jewellers, watchmakers and designers.

The 2026 edition will also introduce a new layout across the exhibition, with collections organised by category, including gold, coloured gemstones, fine jewellery and watches, helping visitors navigate the halls with greater ease. Heritage Bahraini gold craftsmanship will sit alongside rare gemstones and contemporary design, reflecting the extraordinary breadth of jewellery gathered in a single setting.

For brands considering participation, it is easy to see why so many exhibitors return year after year. The exhibition has become one of the Middle East’s most important meeting points for jewellers and collectors, bringing together more than 600 luxury brands and over 60,000 visitors from across the GCC and beyond. It is a place where new collections are introduced to an engaged audience, where conversations happen face-to-face and where exhibitors reconnect with loyal clients.

Jewellery Arabia returns to Exhibition World Bahrain from 24-28 November 2026, continuing under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain. If you are a jewellery or watch brand interested in exhibiting at the 2026 edition, you can find further details and register your interest through the official Jewellery Arabia website.

After five consecutive editions, I cannot wait to return and discover what new wonders await. Will you be there to explore with me?