Index poised to further boost the Middle East interiors sector

The largest ever interiors show ever to be staged in the Middle East, Index 2006 will cover 35,380 square metres, showcasing 1,650 manufacturers and suppliers from 57 countries. "We celebrate 16 highly successful years of Index this year with the biggest, brightest interiors event ever seen in the region," said Kim Willis, Exhibition Development Director of dmg world media Dubai, organisers of the internationally respected and acclaimed event.

"With more exhibitors, expanded country pavilion participation and the leading regional and international names from the interiors and furniture industry taking part, Index 2006 continues the remarkable growth of the show," said Bernard Walsh, Managing Director of dmg world media Dubai.

"Index continues to break its own records every year, both for the amount of floorspace covered, number of exhibitors and the massive audience of decision makers that attend the event."

The seemingly endless expansion of the residential, retail and commercial property sectors across the region is still accelerating, making Index an even more essential part of the global and regional industry, as it represents a unique one-stop trade generation and sourcing opportunity. A recent report highlighted over 2,100 projects that are either planned or underway in the Gulf region with a total value in excess of US$1,000 billion - a growth of over 40% against 2005. Of this amount, the GCC states account for some US$880 billion.

"Index 2006 will once again attract high quality trade visitors that have buying and specifying authority'" added Willis. "And they come not only from the UAE, but the wider GCC region, other Arab states, Iran, India and Europe - this region now rivals the mature markets of the EU, USA and Japan, and there are few, if any other interiors events anywhere else in the world that act as a direct conduit to such a wealth of business opportunities."

The success of the event is strongly linked to its continual development and enhancement over the years, which has created an environment that is ideally positioned to generate real business, both at the show and on an on-going basis - with renewed focus on product areas that are especially relevant to the Middle East market, including flooring and lighting, Index 2006 will further build on its globally recognised strengths; textiles and furnishings.

Featuring hundreds of the leading manufacturers and editeurs from the major producing countries, Textiles@Index offers designers, retailers and furniture manufacturers a comprehensive selection of the very latest trends, enabling them to source from an incredibly wide and diverse range of decorative, contract and upholstery fabrics. Another still rapidly growing sector in the Middle East, components and semi-finished products for the furniture industry continue to be in great demand by local manufacturers who are looking to meet the requirements of an increasingly sophisticated market. Featuring an unrivalled range of international suppliers of machinery, components and OEM products from door furniture to chair frames, castors to prefab profiles, furniture locks to veneers, hinges and trims, Furniture Production@Index delivers the best that the world has to offer.

"Every year, Index presents the widest selection of innovative, creative and thought provoking ideas from every section of the interiors industry," added Willis. "From contract and residential lighting, carpets and rugs, flooring, wallcoverings, art, frames, mirrors and furnishing accessories to kitchens and bathrooms, interior design and textiles, this is the show that showcases everything for interiors, literally from floor to ceiling."

Acclaimed as the premier event for the Gulf region's architects, specifiers and designers, and with imports currently in excess of US$6 billion per annum, Index is the definitive industry showcase. "Index 2006, from November 7th to 11th, is a vital visit for anyone involved in the interiors industry" concluded Walsh.