UAE outstanding example of federation - minister

Abu Dhabi: United Arab Emirates leaders have succeeded in creating an outstanding example of a federation, a government minister has said.

"The UAE federation has made achievements in many major and minor fields that sets grounds of strength for the federation and the state," Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said on the sidelines of the UAE watch collectors exhibition.

The event "Collectors from UAE" organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development, was launched at Emirates Palace on Saturday to celebrate the UAE's 37th National Day.

At the same time, Gargash considered the exhibition a good start for the national day celebrations.

Hobby

There are more than 60 rare and valuable watches on display. They are owned by a number of Emirati collectors and are worth approximately Dh100 million.

The exhibition will run through December 1 and will afterwards move to the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) from December 3 to 5.

Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais, Minister of Culture, said: "The exhibition is part of a variety of programmes to celebrate the National Day.

"We are trying to introduce collecting valuable watches not only as a hobby but also as an art that shows the professionalism of this hobby," Al Owais said.

"Some of the watches are very valuable and are not available in other parts of the world," he said.

"This shows the passion of Emirati collectors who own such artworks," according to him.

Some of the watches were made more than 253 years ago and are considered a piece of art crafted by renowned watch makers such as Cartier, Denial Roth Babylon, Bridget, F.B. Gurney and Harry Winston.