Index 2005, the interiors event of the year, was once again the largest exhibition ever to be staged at Dubai’s International Exhibition Centre. It covered a total of 30,495 square metres, completely occupied ten exhibition halls, the Al Multaqua Hall and the Pavilion, and this year further enhanced its position as the most prestigious and largest exhibition in the Middle East by far.
“The international standing of the event was further strengthened by the high quality and comprehensive profile of the products showcased at Index, which is unrivalled and comparable to any of the major international interiors exhibitions that take place in Europe and the US.” Said Bernard Walsh, Managing Director of organisers dmg world media Dubai Ltd.
Trade visitor numbers increased by 6% year on year to 31,140, enabling exhibitors to market their products and services to a focused audience of key decision makers from the entire Gulf region. 35% of registered trade visitors came from Dubai, 25% from Abu Dhabi and the other Emirates and 19% from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. The 21% of visitors that traveled to the show from other countries included significant numbers from Egypt, India, Iran, Africa, Asia (in particular Malaysia, Singapore and China) and Europe.
“This year, Index grew in every area - it hosted exhibitors from 56 countries, with 1,251 stands representing 1,443 companies – this included 30 national and regional groups, which further highlights the significance of the event to Government representative bodies around the world.” added Walsh.
A unique showcase that attracts the trendsetters and icons of an industry that thrives on innovation, Index 2005 was the most vibrant, colourful celebration of the very best from the interiors industry ever staged in the long and highly successful history of the show.
Feedback from exhibitors and visitors was extremely positive. 64% said that their participation had met most of their objectives, 67% rated the quality of visitors as good or excellent, and Long-term and new exhibitors considered the show a good investment and a highly effective way to generate business from one of the world’s most buoyant interiors markets. “Our first Index has been excellent, with substantial orders and serious contacts from Lebanon, Egypt and Saudi Arabia - it has been well beyond my expectations.” said Gordon Khanna of UK-based Daniel James Furnishings Ltd.
Veronique Noury-Clement of Ubifrance, the co-ordinators of the French pavilion at Index said “We have been exhibiting at Index for 10 years now – the show really is the perfect platform to do business with not just the UAE, but all the other countries in the Middle East.”
The power of Index in generating business is summed up by Brahim Oudich of Atelier Louis XIV, who said; “The show is good. We’ve seen a lot of VIPs, a lot of designers and architects and people from all over the Arab market. This region is becoming more and more important for us, so much so that we’ve shifted our office from Germany to Dubai to make it easier to service our clients all over the Middle East.”
Clear evidence of the quality of visitors attracted by Index was the number of significant orders that were signed during the show. Noble Textile Trading, a Pakistani cotton fabric specialist, signed contracts worth US$90,000 in just the first two days of the show, while BSH Walls & Floors finalised a substantial commercial carpet deal with Sharjah International Airport.
“Index, one of the world’s most successful trade fairs, has again proven a great success for exhibitors,” said Walsh. “There’s no question that Dubai, combined with the other Gulf countries, forms one of the most exciting markets anywhere in the world, and we are proud to stage such a world class platform for the global industry in Dubai every year.”
Dubai is internationally regarded as the portal through which thousands of overseas manufacturers establish themselves in the Middle East – its strategic location enables them to make their products available to distributors, specifiers and buyers. The international appeal of the show has also helped local manufacturers to achieve regional exposure and expand across the region.
As the interiors market continues to show dynamic growth and with the long term projections on a steep upward curve, Walsh has a clear vision of what is required to maintain the outstanding success of Index. “This show provides the ideal environment in which to do business – our objective is to continue to enhance this, and at the same time to increase the focus on specific product areas, including flooring and lighting, which will in turn widen the show’s appeal and effectiveness.”
Always a good measure of the success of any exhibition, advance bookings for Index 2006 are already running at a very high level. “The recently announced increase in available space at Dubai International Exhibition Centre is very good news for us,” said Walsh. “It means that we will now be able to accommodate more companies and countries that couldn’t participate this year due to space restrictions.”
About dmg world media Dubai Ltd.
dmg world media Dubai Ltd, part of the dmg world media group of companies, has a wealth of experience in organising exhibitions to the very highest international standards. Index, The Big 5, The Office Exhibition and The Hotel Show are all leaders in their respective market sectors.
One of the largest exhibition and publishing companies in the world, the dmg world media group of companies produces more than 300 market-leading trade exhibitions, consumer shows and fairs each year. It also publishes 45 related magazines (including “Gulf Interiors”), newspapers, directories and market reports. The company employs over 800 people in its worldwide network of 38 offices in the USA, UK, Canada, Brazil, France, China, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East. dmg world media is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT), one of the largest and most successful media companies in the world.
