Jewels of the World has opened its Riyadh edition across two luxury hotels, the first time the exhibition series has split its programme between two venues in the Saudi capital. Jewels of the World Fine Jewelry is being held at the Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, while Jewels of the World Luxe runs at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh. Together the two shows bring dozens of regional and international brands to the Kingdom. The exhibitions opened to the public on Sunday.
The expansion reflects what exhibitors describe as a more demanding Saudi customer. Dana Al-Alami, a member of the National Committee for Precious Metals and Gemstones, said buyers now look closely at manufacturing quality, precision of detail and originality of design, rather than judging a piece only on the value of its gold or the size of its diamond. Her comments came as visitors moved between stands of diamonds, pearls and gemstones at the Riyadh venues. She said “the Saudi consumer has become more aware and precise in their choices”. According to Al-Alami, shoppers are also asking about the origin of gemstones, diamond certification and after-sales service. Brands have responded by competing on design, craftsmanship and storytelling instead of raw material value. She linked the shift to a maturing market with strong demand and a long cultural attachment to jewellery, which in Saudi Arabia is closely tied to family celebrations, identity and heritage. Pieces, she added, are often bought to mark an occasion or a memory.
Al-Alami said events of this kind open new markets and build commercial partnerships between manufacturers, designers and investors. She connected the growing number of international exhibitions in the Kingdom with Vision 2030’s aim of making Saudi Arabia a regional hub for industry, trade and investment. In her view, the country has the manufacturing base, accumulated expertise and evolving regulation to become a regional centre for jewellery production, rather than remaining a consumer market alone.
The series has one more stop in the Kingdom this year. The final 2026 edition of Jewels of the World will take place at the Jeddah Hilton from October 19 to 22, giving buyers on the west coast access to the same mix of fine jewellery and luxury brands. Organisers have not published a full exhibitor list for the Riyadh shows, but the decision to add a second venue in the capital points to rising confidence in Saudi demand for high-end pieces.
