02 June 2015, Dubai, UAE: Dhamani 1969, the premium luxury jewellery house based in Dubai, has become the first retailer in the Middle East to win The BEST of the BEST Gold VIVA Award from the International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC).The Council announced the winners of the ICSC VIVA Awards in Las Vegas in front of a crowd of 2000+ industry professionals, honouring the retail real estate industry’s most advanced, innovative solutions and creative responses to market trends.

The annual awards program recognizedonly five projects, which span five continents, for outstanding achievement in marketing, design and development, and retail categories.

Dhamani 1969 won the retail category for its fabulous classic design that exudes timeless elegance. With an impressive marble and bronze façade, a detailed interior with sophisticated custom polished surfaces and signature lighting treatments. Dhamani 1969 creates a showcase for the unique collection of 1969 luxury jewellry. The award-winning boutique allows for casual browsing as well as one-on-one personalised attention in exclusive viewing salons.

Amit Dhamani, Managing Director, Dhamani commented: “Dubai Mall’s Dhamani 1969 boutique evokes pure extravagance—combining dark, elegant customsurfaces with signature lighting treatments to showcase Dhamani’s bejewelled creations as worksof art. We are absolutely delighted with this award. 

“Dhamani is a shining gem among the jewellery elite, it is a modern interpretation of the traditional artsalons, conveying a sense of intimacy and serving as a branded, signature backdrop for viewing theart on display. To accentuate the timelessness of Dhamani’s artistry and reinforce the feeling ofhandcrafted luxury, only the most exquisite materials, sourced from around the world were chosen—Italian marble, golden silk-covered walls, rose gold trim, and hand-rubbed bronze finishes. The designcelebrates each of Dhamani’s handcrafted, one-of-a-kind masterpieces and distinct-cut gemstones asworks of art,” concluded Amit. 

The Middle East Council of Shopping Centres (MECSC) congratulated Dhamani on the award.

David Macadam, CEO of the MECSC commented, “ Having played a small role earlier in the retail industry with Dhamani 8 years ago, it is extremely gratifying to see the brand ‘Dhamani 1969’ rise from modest beginnings to sit comfortably in the arena of such wonderful jewellery legends as Cartier and Graf, Amit Dhamani and his family must surely be proud of this wonderful global award provided by the ICSC at the Viva Awards for the BEST of the BEST retailers”

Shane Eldstrom, President, MECSC commented: “This is a tremendous honour for Dhamani 1969. It shows that Middle East retailers are industry leading innovators and are making great advances on the global level. It also highlights the culture, heritage and art of the region as well as the vision and ambition of regional retail leaders. The ICSC is a renowned organisation that celebrates excellence in retail design and we are thrilled for Dhamani to be among their award recipients this year.”

MECSC is the regional trade body representing the Shopping Centre Industry in the Middle East & North Africa. Its mission is to provide an effective forum for exchange of ideas and sharing of knowledge and be a catalyst in the development of the shopping centre industry in the Middle East & North Africa.  The role of the MECSC is to facilitate the business of the retail members and to raise the personal profiles of the individuals in the retail industry.

ICSC also honoured the Dhamani 1969 project at an awards dinner during their 2014 RECon Middle East & North Africa conference.  ICSC RECon is the premiere networking and educational conference for the shopping centre industry in the Middle East and North Africa. 

Founded in 1957, ICSC is the premier global trade association of the shopping centre industry. Its more than 70,000 members in over 100 countries include shopping centre owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, retailers and brokers, as well as academics and public officials.