H.E. Reem Al Hashemi, UAE Minister of State, today (Sunday, May 25, 2008) inaugurated DOMOTEX Middle East 2008, the only dedicated carpets and floor coverings exhibition in the MENA region, that is being held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 25 to 27, 2008. Organised by Deutsche Messe Dubai, DOMOTEX Middle East has brought together 280 exhibitors from 36 countries. In addition, more than 7,000 professional visitors are expected to visit the show over the next three days.
The major attractions at the 2008 edition of DOMOTEX Middle East include the unveiling of the Zohra, a hand-made, pure silk carpet that is priced more than AED 3.67 million; the Faraji, considered one of the largest round-shaped carpet produced from pure silk and priced more than AED 1.84 million; a luxurious collection featuring Swarovski-Crystals; and a 24-karat gold cork mosaic. DOMOTEX Middle East 2008 will also see the inauguration of a new Designers Corner sponsored by the American University in Dubai’s Department of Interior Design. The Corner will comprise a special designer’s lounge area featuring leading Gulf carpet and floor covering projects intended to inspire architects and designers.
Angela Schaschen, Managing Director, Deutsche Messe Dubai, said, “The phenomenal growth of the Middle East’s property market and the parallel hospitality sector boom in the region has meant that the demand for carpets and floor coverings has continued to soar. Given this trend, it is imperative to provide a platform for regional and global manufacturers of carpets and floor coverings to showcase their creativity and craftsmanship, which in turn will go a long way in helping them capitalise on the numerous market opportunities in the Middle East”.
DOMOTEX will provide the perfect platform to gain entry to the lucrative Middle Eastern market, particularly in the Gulf where an estimated AED 2.56 trillion worth of ongoing construction projects has boosted demand for office and home furnishings. The event will also provide participants with the opportunity to launch new products, strengthen existing partnerships and forge new business relations.
The three-day exhibition will also highlight the latest in hand and machine-made carpets and rugs; textile floor coverings; fibres, yarns and textiles; and resilient floor coverings. Various wood and parquet flooring; laminate artificial grass and sports flooring; natural stone, marble and ceramic tiles; laying skills; and cleaning and application technologies will also be on display.
This year, the event will adopt hotel and office flooring themes to capitalise on the boom in hospitality and business construction developments throughout the Middle East; it will also feature the annual Creative Flooring session conducted by training professionals from the UK to demonstrate time-saving and quality-enhancing techniques as well as new products.
DOMOTEX Middle East 2008 is organised by the Dubai branch of Deutsche Messe, the world’s leading trade fair company. Deutsche Messe plans and executes around 100 trade fairs and exhibitions annually, servicing 23,000 exhibitors, 1.8 million visitors, and 15,000 media members from over 100 countries. The trade event specialist posts annual revenues of EUR 250 million and manages around 800 employees, 70 foreign representatives, and a 1 million-square-meter exhibition centre, the largest exhibition facility in the world.
