The Gold and Diamond Park, the unique manufacturing and retail free zone for jewellery developed by Emaar Properties, celebrated a hugely successful first year of operation, with production levels soaring and demand growing for world-class quality gold and diamond ornaments produced by manufacturers at the park.
The first free zone of its kind in the Middle East, the park has 118 manufacturers and 30 retail outlets.
Skilled craftsmen operating at the park produce a range of international designs including Italian, Bahraini, Singaporean, Indian, Bengali and UAE. Among the exclusive designs produced are unique gold and diamond-studded mobile telephones that have become very popular.
"We have enjoyed an excellent first year of operation that has exceeded our expectations for both manufacturing and retail operations here at the park," said Emaar Properties chairman Mohamed Alabbar.
"The success of this innovative park is shown by the fact we have a long waiting list for both manufacturers and retailers anxious to do business here. Consumers love the range and quality of products on display here and we have an enviable record of 90 per cent of our visitors buying at least one piece of jewellery when they visit us."
The Gold and Diamond Park has proved a firm favourite with celebrity visitors and international delegations from all over the world. Emaar Properties also works closely with the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and a number of beachfront hotels to ensure that the park becomes an increasingly popular destination for tourists and visitors to Dubai.
One of the other unique aspects of the Gold and Diamond Park is that it is the only outlet in the region where customers can purchase unique "purple gold". Solid 19-carat purple gold is a mix of 80 per cent pure yellow gold and 20 per cent of other precious metals and is exclusively available in the park. The park is also well known as the only place where one can get diamonds directly from Belgium companies, pearls from Australia and Tahiti, traditional jewellery from Rajasthan India, and gemstones from all over the world
The centre now has its own gold assaying facility with the granting of permission to Alex Stewart (Assayers) Dubai FZCO to conduct testing and assaying all gold produced at the park.
A member of the Dubai Shopping Malls Group, the Gold and Diamond Park ran a highly successful DSF promotion this year and staged a number of exhibitions.
The Gold and Diamond Park is supported by the World Gold Council, the Gold and Jewellery Group in Dubai and the Diamond Trading Company (DTC), the marketing arm of De Beers.
Emaar Properties was also a sponsor of the prestigious Pan-Arab gold jewellery design contest called "Al Ibda'ul Hor" and organised by the World Gold Council.
Gold and Diamond Park Centre manager Manan Desai said: "It has been a great first year for us and our tenants in the park. An estimated 30 per cent of companies now have 24-hour production to meet demand for their beautiful gold and diamond jewellery. We are starting our second year with great confidence and the management, manufacturers and retailers here are looking forward to even greater success and stronger support from the industry."
Emaar Properties, a leader in the Middle East property development sector, is currently developing five other large-scale international master-planned projects in Dubai as part of its strategic plan to contribute to the development of Dubai and the national economy of the UAE. The projects are Dubai Marina, The Lakes, Emirates Hills, Emaar Towers and the Arabian Ranches golf and equestrian mixed-use development.
