UAE Leading Importer of Swiss Watches in GCC Region

The UAE has emerged as the largest importer of Swiss watches, among five GCC countries in the first six months of this year.

In fact, the Emiratis bought more than half of these watches (58%) that were imported by the GCC member-states which were valued around more than $770 million during H1-2025 compared with $780 million during H1-2024.

The value of the Swiss watches that were imported by the five GCC countries – The UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait -was approximately $1.33 billion in the first half of 2025 as against $1.34 billion during the same period in 2024, according to the statistics released by the Federation of Swiss Watch Industry FH.

In June alone, these five countries imported Swiss watches amounting to $210.7 million compared to $210 million during the corresponding period last year, the statistics revealed.

In June this year, the UAE imported watches worth $124 million, a 2.9% increase compared with $120.65 million in June 2024.

Saudi Arabia was the second largest importer in the GCC region with imports totalling $212.3 million) in the first half of 2025, compared with $197.8 million in the same period last year, the data showed. In June, The Kingdom’s imports amounted to $34.35 million versus $32.5 million) in June 2024.

Qatar was the third largest importer of Swiss watches in the first half of 2025 amounting to approximately $174 million, down from $178.3 million during the corresponding period last year. In June, Qatar’s imports were valued at $26.41 million as against $26.9 million in the same period last year.

Kuwait ranked fourth in the Gulf in Swiss watch imports, with a value of 86.9 million francs ($107.8 million) during the first half of 2025, compared to 97 million francs ($120.3 million) during the same period in 2024.

In June, Kuwait imported watches worth 12.3 million francs ($14.9 million), compared to 17 million francs ($21.08 million) in June of last year.

Bahrain ranked fifth in the Gulf, with its imports amounting to $64.35 million during the first half of 2025, up from $61.13 million during the same period in 2024. In June, Bahrain recorded imports worth $11 million, compared with $8.75 million in June 2024.

Global Exports

Impacted by significant declines in the US, Japan and Hong Kong, Swiss watch exports continued to fall in June, and amounted to $2.74 billion, down by 5.6%. The situation over six months is broadly stable (-0.1%) at almost $16.19 billion, but this could fall more markedly should the downward trend continue.

Switzerland’s total watch exports during the first half of 2025 amounted to $15 billion, compared with $14.98 billion during the same period in 2024, registering a marginal increase of 0.1%, the data said.

In June, the value of the Swiss watch exports decreased by 4.9% to $2.5 billion, compared with $2.63 billion) in June 2024.