When it comes to buying watches for a cheaper price, there are always a few places that come up. One of these places is Dubai, but are watches actually cheaper in Dubai?
Luxury watches are cheaper in Dubai, but only by a small margin. This is because Dubai is a rich city with many potential buyers. The laws of supply and demand ensure that the price of a luxury watch is a little lower than in other places.
But how much cheaper are these watches here? And should you actually make the trip to Dubai purely for a watch? In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at how much cheaper the watches in Dubai are and how the prices can be lower than usual.
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Why Would A Watch In Dubai Be Cheaper
Dubai is a beautiful city, known for its riches and luxe. It should be of no surprise that a city with this status is often linked to luxurious and expensive watches.
That’s also why many people might wonder if a luxury watch could be cheaper in Dubai. And the answer is actually yes, although not by a large margin. Unlike watches that are sold in Switzerland, which aren’t really any cheaper (read this article to find out why!), Dubai actually offers luxury watches, especially Rolex watches, for a slightly cheaper price.
However, the difference in price is usually only around $100 bucks. Luxury watchmakers are actually in control of the price and retailers can’t change too much about that, so therefore, you won’t really see a large difference.
On the other hand, because Dubai is a city of luxe and wealth, there’s actually a much larger demand for these expensive watches. And a larger demand usually also means that the price is a little bit lower.
That’s the case here in Dubai, where many luxury watches are sold. If these watches were to go for the original price, chances are that the buyer just goes to a competitor with more favorable prices. This leads to luxury watchmakers to drop their prices slightly.
But as mentioned before, these drops in prices are very minor. Don’t expect to find a luxury watch for half the price, as this simply won’t happen.
How The Price Of A Watch Is Determined
To understand why a luxury watch won’t really budge in price, you’d have to look at how a luxury watch is priced in the first place.
The price of any luxury watch is always set by the watchmakers themselves. This is a common practice in any business, but luxury watch brands also make deals with their retailers that prohibit them from lowering their prices.
This is done because a luxury watch brand wants to keep up the luxuriousness. And if a retailer starts to discount these luxury watches, chances are the luxurious feel will start to decay.
But how do these watchmakers set a price for their watches? This has everything to do with the manufacturing process and the materials used to make the watch.
Because every luxury watch is made by hand, only by the very best watchmakers available, you’re already looking at a premium price. Your timepiece is made by experts, who can take up to several days or weeks to complete a single watch. This really drives up the price already.
Secondly, these experts make their watches with high-quality, expensive, and even exotic materials. Yellow gold or platinum are no rare sights.
These materials are much more expensive than the materials used in a budget watch. And when you pair that with the experts that make these watches by hand, you’ll quickly get to a very high manufacturing cost.
On top of that, the luxury watchmakers also need to make a profit, and the margins on luxury products are always absurdly high. This all combined leads to a high price tag with little wiggle room.
Other Factors That Determine The Price Of A Watch
Of course, there are other factors that come into play when pricing a watch. These are some minor impacts on the price and these mostly apply to buying the watches in different countries, but these do have some influence.
Supply And Demand
Supply and demand will always be of influence on a price, even when talking about luxury products, which usually don’t budge.
Supply and demand is actually one of the main reasons why watches could be cheaper in Dubai. It’s actually pretty simple. Once there’s a lot of supply of a certain product, the prices can drop a bit. And since Dubai is a rich city, targeted to the richer people, naturally, there will a many luxury stores.
When you keep those prices high, customers can easily go to a competitor. To avoid that, luxury watch companies in Dubai usually lower their prices slightly.
Currencies
Another factor that comes into play when you purchase something abroad is the currency. Currencies are always changing in value, and sometimes this could lead to an even lower price.
When you purchase something in Dubai, as an American, and the dollar is positioned strongly against the UAE Dirham, you indirectly pay a smaller price.
However, this could also be the other way around. So don’t bet everything on the currency differences, as this could have either a positive or negative effect. In any case, these currency differences usually don’t make for a substantial difference anyway.
VAT
VAT is yet another factor that can influence the price. VAT can be different from country to country. In the United States, you’ll often find 10%, but in some European countries, it can be as high as 21%.
In Dubai, the average VAT rate is only 0.05%, which is really low. This can already shave off a nice chunk of the price. Added to that are all the other benefits as well!
Customs
Lastly, there’s something called a customs duty. This is something put in place to defend the local economy of a certain country. What they do is they place an extra ‘tax’ on items bought abroad. They do this to encourage you to buy the same item in your home country instead of abroad.
The customs duty can vary from country to country. As for the United States, you can bring back up to $800 worth of items. Anything over $800 will be subject to 3-5% in customs duty.
Now, a luxury watch will definitely be more expensive than $800, so expect to pay a small percentage extra when you bring back your new luxury watch.
Should You Buy A Watch In Dubai; Yes Or No
Now that you know that a luxury watch could be cheaper in Dubai, you might start to wonder if you should book a trip here once you’re ready to buy a luxury watch.
Before you do, please consider a few things. Booking the trip, your hotel, and renting a car, will probably cost you more than the decreased watch price will save you.
So should you go to Dubai just to purchase a watch? Probably not. Not only are you probably spending more money than you’re saving, but you’ll also have to go on a long flight. This seems like a little too much of a hassle if you’re going here purely for a watch.
But if you’re already planning a trip to Dubai, and you’re already planning on purchasing a luxury watch, buying it in Dubai will probably be beneficial. Even if it doesn’t save you that much money, buying your new timepiece on a wonderful vacation makes it just that much more special!
While prices for luxury watches can vary depending on the brand, model, and features, there are several factors that may make buying a luxury watch in Dubai more affordable than in other countries. First, Dubai has a low tax rate, which can make luxury goods less expensive than in other countries with higher tax rates.
The retail pricing of a Rolex is more or less the same in Dubai or any other city. On average, a Rolex can cost you anywhere between AED 30,000 and AED 75,000 via the retail store.
Are watches cheaper in Dubai? So in Dubai, the official retailer adds 5% of duty cost and in Gold Souk in Deira, the brand new Rolex watches are 20-25% cheaper than the international price. The second-hand watches are even cheaper.
You can buy this Rolex in Dubai for prices ranging between Dh100,000 and Dh135,000. The quality of materials used and the manufacturing process is why Rolex watches are expensive. Rolex spends an extensive amount of time researching and testing out different materials while producing their watches.
A surge of buyers are snapping up watches without even knowing which model they're getting. This means the Seddiqi-owned watch retailer must sometimes disappoint even its best clients. The world's largest Rolex boutique is in Dubai.
Christie's Dubai sets new record for most expensive watch sold at auction in the Middle East. At the recently concluded Christie's Watches Online: The Dubai Edit , the Patek Philippe's Sky Moon Tourbillon Ref 5002 became the most expensive watch sold at auction in the Middle East when it sold for $1,590,000.
Airport Dealers Probably Have Limited Rolex Selection
Generally, if you are buying from an Authorized Dealer, you can expect the most popular models to be in stock. However, you are unlikely to be able to buy waiting list models, or limited edition timepieces.
A brand new Rolex Datejust watch will set you back anywhere between AED 28,200 and AED 70,000. Additionally, the pre-owned price of a Rolex Datejust in Dubai is between AED 60,000 – AED 122,000.
Rolex's largest store on the planet was first opened in 2018 and reopened after a modernisation in 2020. It is run by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, the largest authorised dealer of luxury watches in the Middle East, in Dubai Mall, said to be the biggest shopping mall in the world.
Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons owns all of the 12 official Rolex retail stores that exist in Dubai which is very uncommon if you look around the world, where there are usually a few major branches that own multiple stores, complemented by a few independent retailers. What is this?
The best price for the Rolex Black Stainless Steel Submariner in Dubai, UAE is AED 11087 sold at The Luxury Closet and available with free shipping and delivery within Delivery in 2 - 3 days. Product is also sold at The Luxury Closet for a price up to AED 11087.
How much is the cheapest Rolex? The cheapest Rolex for women is the Oyster Perpetual Reference 276200 that costs $5,300 MSRP. For the men is the Oyster Perpetual Reference 126000 at $5,800 MSRP.
Even the cheapest Rolex watch will cost around $5,000. Rolex is a luxury watch brand, so while collectors pay to wear a brand name, they also pay for quality Swiss craftsmanship designed to remain in perfect working condition for generations.
Rolexes are generally no cheaper in Switzerland than anywhere else in the world. Rolex adjusts their local prices according to the currency of course, but otherwise, there is little benefit to buying in one specific location.
The UK has the most people likely to purchase a Rolex. In the country, there are 6.3 million searches made each year, more than half of the 10 million made in the US, which has five times its population.
Middle East. The middle east, especially Dubai's airport is often spoken about when it comes to the cheapest country to buy luxury watches in. It is particularly considered to be a good place for new Rolex watches since they have no VAT.
Obviously, the availability of stainless steel sports Rolexes varies a lot. In writing moment, the Rolex models that are the hardest to get are the Daytona 116500, 126710BLNR, 126710BLRO, 126610LN, 124060, 126711CHNR, 126610LN, 126610LV.
The world's wealthiest man Bernard Arnault also takes the top spot for his watch. The CEO of French luxury conglomerate LVMH has a taste for luxury fashion, of course, so he opts for an extremely rare Tiffany Patek Philippe Nautilus 5740, per Highsnobiety.
1. Graff Diamonds Hallucination – $55 million. The Graff Diamonds Hallucination is the most expensive watch in the world, with a price tag of $55 million.
Availability. Walk into any authorized Rolex dealer, and you're going to see a lot of Datejusts, Day-Dates, Oyster Perpetuals, perhaps a Milgaus, maybe an Air-King, and usually a fresh batch of Cellini dress watches in a wide range of sizes and colors.
So, what do you do? Can you wear a watch through airport security? Yes, you can wear your watch through airport security. Just keep it on your wrist, especially if you're afraid that it might get scratched or stolen if you put it in a tray.
To buy a Rolex Daytona, the waitlist is often suggested to be 5 or 10 years long. The harsh reality is that unless you have a large spending history with your Authorised Rolex dealer you're unlikely to ever be offered a Rolex Daytona.
Swiss tennis player, Roger Federer, wore the 41mm Datejust II and is also Rolex's most prominent (paid) “brand ambassador”. Australian tennis player, Rod Laver, wears a solid gold, 36mm Datejust. A left-hander, he wears it on his right wrist. American tennis player, Chris Evert, wears a solid gold Datejust 31mm.
The short answer to this popular question is yes – nearly every Rolex will hold its value over time. The reverence and exclusivity of the brand coupled with exceptional quality guarantees that most Rolex watches will stand the test of time in terms of performance and style – and the Datejust is absolutely no exception.
1. Rolex. Rolex is a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer based in Geneva, Switzerland. The company is well-known for its high-quality and precision timepieces, and its watches are considered some of the world's finest.
I would definitely recommend this store to anyone looking for a high-quality timepiece. Purchased my Rolex Sea Dweller 2022 dual tone from DubaiLuxuryWatch. Wahid was extremely professional and offered the best rate across the market. The watch is completely authentic and wahid made the purchasing process amazing too.
The Trinity or 'big three' is a nickname given to the most luxurious watchmaking brands in the world. At the top of their game, the three watchmaking companies are Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe.
According to Statista Consumer Market Outlook estimates, China was the leading market for luxury watches in terms of revenue. In 2022, the market revenue for this segment amounted to approximately 10.4 billion U.S. dollars.
1. What are the top 10 luxury watch brands in the UAE? The top 10 luxury watch brands in the UAE are Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Omega, Vacheron Constantin, Cartier, Chopard, Hublot, Breitling, and Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Since 1960, the company has been owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a private family trust. Rolex SA and its subsidiary Montres Tudor SA design, make, distribute, and service wristwatches sold under the Rolex and Tudor brands.
Rolex creates, manufactures, assembles and tests all its watches exclusively in Switzerland, thanks to the know-how and commitment of more than 9,000 employees at the brand's four sites, all at the cutting edge of technological progress.
The short answer is yes. Rolex watches have become a popular investment option for collectors and investors as they see their value increasing significantly over time. Here's why: First, Rolex is a highly respected brand with a long history of producing quality timepieces.
The reason why Rolex watches are expensive is because of the quality and value of their product. Both Rolex quality and value has created an environment where demand far exceeds supply and their watches are now considered investments, often selling for 2 to 3 times used than new at MSRP.
The Submariner is even used by military personnel and professional divers. Due to its popularity and collectibility, this watch has a strong resale value and can increase significantly in value over time, making it a smart investment for those who want to invest in a luxury timepiece.
Not much of a surprise here, but Rolex has bid farewell to the Cellini collection in 2023. The last remaining model of the Cellini collection was the Moonpase ref. 50535, which has now been discontinued in 2023.
We've taken a look at Rolex's popular watches and found that on average, you can expect a Rolex watch to cost anywhere between $5,000 and $75,000. Mind you, the sky's the limit when it comes to these luxurious timepieces. One Rolex watch — the Paul Newman Daytona — sold at a 2017 auction for $17.8 million.
New and genuine Rolex watches are exclusively sold by official Rolex Jewelers. They warrant the authenticity of your Rolex and ensure that it enjoys a five-year international guarantee.
Dubai has always been favoured for its exemption from taxes. It is one of the main reasons why people choose to move to the city, as well as buy gold. Due to the exclusion of taxes in the emirate, prices for gold in Dubai have always been cheaper as buyers would only pay for the value of the gold jewellery.
Yes. Dubai came in at number 31 in a 2022 Mercer survey ranking the cities with the highest cost of living in the world. However, Dubai is still more affordable than other famously expensive cities like Singapore, London and New York City.
There is no duty on gold coins, medals or bullion but these items must be declared to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer. Please note a FINCEN 105 form must be completed at the time of entry for monetary instruments over $10,000. This includes currency, ie. gold coins, valued over $10,000.
As per the current scenario, the average price of a 1-carat diamond in Dubai is approximately AED 20,000 to AED 25,000 (USD 5,500 to USD 6,800). However, prices can range significantly depending on the quality of the diamond.
MOHAMMED RASOOL KHOORY & SONS of UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (Abu Dhabi & Al Ain) is proud to be part of the worldwide network of Official Rolex Retailers, allowed to sell and maintain Rolex watches.
Dubai's currency, the Emirati dirham, is based on the US dollar. This stability allows it to remain fairly inelastic, and the worth of the money is unlikely to change dramatically from year to year. Just to let you know, 1 US dollar is about 3.67 dirhams.
Although USD is widely accepted across all sectors in Dubai, it is best advisable to convert home currency into Dirham for the ease of travelling and saving money. For example Canadian Dollar is 2.81 AED and 0.76 USD.
Introduction: My name is Duane Harber, I am a modern, clever, handsome, fair, agreeable, inexpensive, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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