IIR Middle East the organisers of Cityscape 2006, the region’s premier international property investment and development event, has confirmed that an astonishing 80% of exhibition space has now been sold, nine months ahead of opening its doors at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre, from 4-6 December 2006.
Due to the success of Cityscape 2005 and the immediate demand for exhibition space for 2006, the organisers increased the amount of space available by another 50%. This now takes the total size of this year’s event to over 16,000 square metres, which is particularly impressive given the exceptional growth since the inaugural Cityscape in 2002.
Franck Dailles, International Exhibition Director, Cityscape group of events, beamed, “To have 80% of the show sold out so early is just extraordinary, in real terms we have sold 5,000 square metres more than we had during the same period last year. It not only demonstrates the strength of the regional market, but firmly positions Cityscape 2006 as the industry’s undisputed premier event.
The final figures for the 2005 show make impressive reading, 281 exhibitors from 29 different countries, 23,552 industry professionals participating from 85 countries and 626 conference delegates and speakers. Little wonder then that major industry players have been clamoring for sponsorship opportunities.
To date regional heavyweights, Emaar Properties, Tanmiyat Group, Aldar Properties, Ilyas & Mustafa Galadari Group and Dar Al Arkan have signed up as platinum sponsors, with The Commercial Real Estate Co. and Saraya Holdings taking gold sponsor status and Future Brand going for silver.
The three-day exhibition and conference attracts key investors, property developers, architects and designers amongst others. Cityscape 2006, as in previous years will feature the hugely successful Cityscape conference, which last year attracted 80 internationally acclaimed speakers who gave 50 presentations as well as dedicated workshops devoted to specific industry issues. The coveted Cityscape Architectural Review Awards will also be distributed during a glittering gala dinner, these international awards are keenly contested and the 300 entries received last year are sure to be surpassed this year.
Commenting on the appeal of the event, Rohan Marwaha, Exhibition Director, Cityscape Dubai said, “Exhibitors praised Cityscape as a well diversified industry event, with an excellent visitor profile, but the bottom line is business. Cityscape witnessed countless multi-million dollar deals. It was quite incredible the rate and the amount of business that was conducted and this year’s event must be one of the most eagerly anticipated, and a true measure of Cityscape’s importance on the industry calendar”.
