Dubai's trade in lighting equipment worth AED 1.27 billion in 2006

According to data compiled by the Statistics Department of Dubai World and released on Thursday May 17, the trade in lighting equipment of all sorts was worth AED 1.27 Billion in 2006 - an increase of AED 179 Million over the previous year.

Imports were valued at AED 955 Million, while exports accounted for AED 20 Million and re-exports totalled AED 298 Million, highlighting the healthy market in countries around the UAE.

Adel Al Ashram, Senior Manager, Statistics Department, Dubai World's Shared Services, attributed the growth to the burgeoning construction sector:

'The UAE and the Gulf region are experiencing an ongoing period of prosperity. The substantial development we are witnessing in the retail, commercial and residential sectors is creating the requirement for an enormous amount of sophisticated lighting equipment and solutions. The rise in population in Dubai and the rest of the UAE has also contributed to the robust health of the lighting business.'

The statistics also list Dubai's top five trading partners in the light fittings and equipment sector. Imports from China accounted for more than a third of the total and were worth AED 325.5 Million, followed by Germany (AED 121.9 Million), Italy (AED 108.6 Million), the United Kingdom (AED 101 Million) and the United States (AED 54.4 Million).

Dubai exported lighting equipment worth AED 3.5 Million to Kuwait, Egypt (AED 2.4 Million), Kenya (AED 1.1 Million), United Kingdom (AED 914 Thousand) and Pakistan (AED 888 Thousand).

The figures for re-exports were: Iraq (AED 54 Million), Iran (AED 41 Million), Qatar (AED 21 Million), Azerbaijan (AED 12 Million) and Kuwait (AED 11 Million).