Gold craft gains industrial spotlight

Abu Dhabi, The Emirati Goldsmiths Platform has used Make it in the Emirates 2026 to project the UAE’s gold and jewellery industry as a high-value manufacturing segment rooted in heritage, design skills and export ambition.

The platform, launched by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, presented an end-to-end model of jewellery production at the fifth edition of the industrial exhibition and conference, which runs at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from 4 to 7 May. Its pavilion traced the journey from raw material sourcing and gemstone evaluation to design, crafting, finishing and finished products, offering visitors a closer look at how traditional skills are being positioned within the country’s wider industrial strategy.

The showcase came as Make it in the Emirates marked its largest edition, bringing together more than 1,200 exhibitors across priority sectors and reflecting the UAE’s effort to broaden manufacturing beyond energy-linked industries. While advanced manufacturing, technology, mobility, pharmaceuticals and sustainable materials dominate much of the policy discussion, the gold and jewellery trade occupies a distinct place in the economy because it combines retail strength, tourism demand, craftsmanship, re-export flows and cultural value.

At the pavilion, five zones were designed to explain different parts of the sector. A heritage-led majlis explored the history of UAE jewellery and its social role, while a gemstone and design section focused on value creation from rough materials to artistic concepts. Live crafting workshops demonstrated manual fabrication, engraving, finishing, plating and gemstone setting. A design exhibition displayed sketches and hand-drawn concepts, and a jewellery exhibition presented finished pieces that blended heritage forms with modern styling.

The platform also introduced the Al Tabla collection in heritage and contemporary formats, using UAE gold and drawing on design references linked to Sharjah’s Mleiha heritage as well as wider cultural influences. Ceramic-based Al Tabla pieces made from Italian lava stone under the Harf & Naqsh brand added a material innovation element, showing how designers are experimenting beyond conventional gold and gemstone formats.

Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the chamber’s participation reflected a commitment to economic self-sufficiency and localised innovation, particularly in high-value creative and artisanal sectors. The platform, he said, supports SME development by placing traditional craftsmanship within a broader economic framework tied to diversification, human capital and knowledge-based production.

Mona Al Suwaidi, director of the executive office of the chamber chairman and head of the Emirati Goldsmiths Platform, said the Make it in the Emirates participation was aligned with the initiative’s mission to develop national talent across the jewellery value chain. The platform is intended to support designers, goldsmiths and artisans with technical exposure, professional development and access to wider commercial opportunities.

The initiative has been gaining visibility through repeated appearances at major jewellery events in Sharjah. Earlier participation at the Watch and Jewellery Middle East Show and Jewels of Emirates placed young designers before regional and international exhibitors, strengthening the platform’s role as a launchpad for jewellery brands. Around 400 members from across the UAE have been associated with the platform, with women designers forming a major part of its talent base.

The UAE’s jewellery market remains closely tied to gold’s dual identity as adornment and investment. Dubai’s position as a bullion and jewellery trading hub, Sharjah’s exhibition ecosystem and Abu Dhabi’s industrial-policy push together give the sector a broader base than retail alone. Higher gold prices have affected consumer buying patterns, encouraging lighter pieces, custom designs and heritage-inspired collections with stronger margins. At the same time, affluent residents, tourists and regional buyers continue to support demand for gold, diamonds and bespoke jewellery.