Story Highlight
– Eric Macaire resigns, relocating to Dubai from UK.
– He views Dubai as a land of opportunity.
– Highlights talent exodus from UK to Dubai expats.
– Dubai experiencing growth in luxury and middle class.
– Enthusiasm for innovation and upcoming projects in Dubai.
Full Story
Eric Macaire, who has held the position of executive director for global buying and merchandising at Watches of Switzerland Group since early 2023, has announced his departure from the company and his relocation to Dubai.
In a message shared on LinkedIn, Mr Macaire casts Dubai and the broader Middle Eastern region as a vibrant hub of opportunity, stating, “The Gulf Cooperation Council states aren’t just growing — they are accelerating and entering 2025-2030 with vision.”
Mr Macaire’s career has spanned various continents, with 15 years in Hong Kong focused on the luxury watch sector, particularly with duty-free specialist DFS Group. He also spent four years in Belgium as a director at Cebeo, an international electronics company.
In his time at Watches of Switzerland, he worked alongside Jim Crichton, who is currently the director of buying and merchandising for the group. They were later joined by Kelly Best in 2024, who brings two decades of experience from her role as lead watch buyer at Signet Jewelers.
His move to Dubai reflects a significant trend of talent migrating from the UK to the Emirate. There are approximately 240,000 British expatriates living in Dubai, alongside over 5,000 businesses from the UK operating in the region. While Mr Macaire has not specified his next professional steps in Dubai, he might align himself with a growing number of entrepreneurs setting up new ventures in the city. According to MEA Markets, over 2,500 British companies were established in Dubai in 2024, with projections indicating that 15,000 new registrations could occur over the next decade.
Henley Partners reported that in 2025 alone, almost 9,800 millionaires relocated to Dubai, solidifying its status as the preferred destination for affluent migrants.
Mr Macaire comments on the region’s demographic trends, noting a significant rise in the population of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) along with a younger, aspirational middle class emerging in cities like Dubai and Saudi Arabia. He highlights considerable governmental support for large-scale projects in sectors like tourism, retail, and aviation, fostering an environment ripe for innovation and new brands.
Dubai Watch Week, a prominent bi-annual event dedicated to luxury watchmaking, has gained recognition under the stewardship of Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, positioning itself as the second-largest watch exhibition globally after Geneva’s Watches and Wonders. Journalists attending the event last year praised it as a highlight on the luxury calendar.
Reflecting on his time at Watches of Switzerland Group, Mr Macaire expressed gratitude, saying, “After an extraordinary chapter with Watches of Switzerland Group PLC, it’s time for me to bid farewell as we move to Dubai with the family. I leave with deep gratitude for the colleagues, partners, and teams who shaped this journey — and for the shared belief that we could continually raise the bar.” He concluded his statement with optimism for both his future and that of the Watches of Switzerland Group, adding, “I leave inspired, grateful, and excited for what comes next for [Watches of Switzerland] Group as well as for myself in the UAE.”
