Commercial construction boom feeds Gulf's demand for office furniture

In 2008 Dubai's office space is expected to double with the delivery of the initial wave of a 4.7mn sqm-expansion in office space scheduled between 2007 and 2010. Yet this dramatic rise in commercial property in the Gulf's business hub is increasingly echoed by developments across the region.

Propelled by business-oriented government policies, the raft of major projects boosting the region's supply of office space now extends across much of the GCC.

In Bahrain the Bahrain Financial Harbour will add 130,000 sqm of office space to the country's portfolio, which is just one of a spate of projects nearing completion. Qatar's The Gate is scheduled to increase the country's office space by 55,000 sqm by the end of 2008. Leading the way in terms of scale is found in Saudi Arabia, with the King Abdullah Economic City, which includes 500,000 sqm of office space.

The boom in office space is also apparent in Kuwait, where it has been estimated that the total supply of commercial property coming into the market from 2007 to 2009 will reach 750,000sqm.

Dmg world media exhibition organizer Paula Al Chami describes the speedy expansion in office space as a major leap forward for The Office Exhibition, the region's flagship office furniture, interiors and design event.

"Dubai's entrepreneurial approach has made it a leader in both business expansion and construction. We are now seeing this successful model inspiring other Gulf countries to establish a welcoming context for business," she says.

Al Chami also expects the Gulf's boom in office space to be reflected in the Office Exhibition to be held from 4th to 6th February 2008 at Dubai International Exhibition Centre. This is set to include more participants and visitors than ever with the growing number of companies in the UAE and across the region needing to furnish and equip their offices.

In the UAE alone the office furniture market is already estimated at between $190 million and $272 million. But this figure can be expected to rise in line with the expansion of office space, expected to take a current supply of 2.4million sqm to three times that figure by 2010.

"The double-digit growth of Dubai's economy has already propelled the development of the Office Exhibition," says Al Chami. "Now we will increasingly see suppliers from across the region coming to the city to emulate its success. Next year's show will reflect the strength of demand both in the UAE and across the GCC for office project based work."