Also, surely there is good value in buying in the UK at the moment with the worthless pounds and your powerful Dirham / Riyals?

Definitely have a look in the UK. In particular have a look at iconic watches. I bought an Omega from them last year with a whacking great discount off it (26% from memory).

They sell them as 'unworn' rather than brand new so technically a grey market dealer but they do come with a balance of the manufacturer warranty. For info, mine came with 18 months left and was basically a brand new watch with all seals and tags still in place.

They have Tag Aquaracers for around £1200. I've had mine for 7 or 8 years now, never serviced and the accuracy is still amazing.

PS. Go automatic not quartz.

I've been sat on the fence for years. Instead I invested in a Garmin Fenix 3, much cheaper and more useful. Love it.

I love watches, all brands and types. When my previous watch conked out, I took it to watch repair shop. It needed a new movement ( quartz) which was going to be more than the watch was worth. The guy advised me to buy a mechanical watch, as these things can always be repaired. Either a manual wind up or automatic. Did some window shopping / saving up and then splashed out on an automatic.

At the time, I was really keen on Oris watches. Make some really nice ones IMHO. If I had the inclination, I think I'd go Brietling.

im a former watch lover from my investment banking days in the uk/us but like Millhouse now a bit over it, given your budget assuming you mean 5k aed not gbp/usd.
I would recommend having a look at hamilton watches www.johnlewis.com/hamilton I have the jazzmaster automatic chronograph as my everyday watch which is a classic watch and not stupidly priced about 1.2k GBP. John Lewis and Selfridges are the main dealers for them in the uk
just a word of warning some of their designs are a bit iffy as they are a yank brand but top quality swiss movements

I have an Ebel dad gave me, but have not worn a watch in decades. Don't see the need to. Cell phone gives the time.

I've never bought myself an expensive (>200 GBP) watch, however, I have one nice one. Its a 1960's Tissot which is both battery and automatic.... It was made just at the crossover time. Worth some bunce apparently. How many times have I worn it......once or twice. It's not my style but it was handed down so its not like I am going to sell it.

Used to have a decent SS Seiko divers watch which I bought in Kuwait a decade or so back and wore it daily. Bombproof. Left it on a plane to Goa about 4 years ago and since then have only worn a watch probably <5 times. Can see me getting a Submariner, as the style is similar to that of the Seiko but obviously an upgrade (I like the one with the green bezel) but i'm in no rush at the moment.

Brietling for me, too. Their recent range is much more elegant than previous ones, although of course they still have the overtly sporting and bells n whistles types. And you can still buy the one which John Revolting wore in the 1996 film Broken Arrow, fwiw.

Find Breitling a bit over the top. I will eventually go for one of these

Rolex Submariner is my everyday watch along with an IWC Portuguese . Don't scrimp on the watch , it's bit like buying a pair of shoes .

Rivoli has a halfback sale on here in Dubai , purchase any Omega watch and get half back as a credit note or 25% off in a discount . That's a great deal considering you can end up with a watch such as Plant Ocean Chronograph on a big discount or another smaller watch .

Thats exactly the watch that I bought my son for his 21st birthday. It sits on his wrist to this day.

Hardly OTT (well, apart from the photo size: apologies):

couldn't agree more.....their watches are absolutely stunning