Middle East Electricity powers the regional energy industry with record breaking trade exhibition

The 2008 show, which covered 34,500 sqm and featured 924 exhibitors from 54 countries, broke its own all time record total visitor attendance which was set last year - independently audited visitor numbers showed that over 41,000 industry professionals attended the show.

Sarah Woodbridge, Group Director - Exhibitions, IIR Middle East - organisers of the event said:

"The response to the show is indicative of the buoyancy of the Middle East and Africa markets in terms of the demand for the latest products and services relating to all sectors of the energy, lighting and water industries. Exhibitors and visitors alike told us that they found the show invaluable and have rated it a massive success in terms of business generation and the unique forum it offers the industry".

Ulrich Schaller, General Manager of Mercury Ueberseehandel GMBH, which has operations in both Germany and the UAE, said; "Middle East Electricity has been marvellous this year. We're leaving the show with literally hundreds of quality leads. We invited our previous contacts to see us at the show, but 70% of contacts we made at the show were new ones".

While Universal Transformers from India once again had a very successful show - "This is our third year at the show, and it gets better and better every year. This year the response, visitor attendance and show organisation have been the best ever, and we have received leads that are likely to lead to the sale of several thousand transformers, plus a number of firm orders that were confirmed at the show'" said Universal's Managing Director, Dhruva Talwalkar.

"To receive feedback like this is always great," added Woodbridge, "but even better from our point of view is that exhibitors and visitors acknowledge that the effectiveness of the exhibition is still growing".

To meet growing demand, the Middle East Africa (MEA) region is expected to increase power generation capacity by almost 30% between 2007 and 2011. Estimates put the cost of power generation in the United Arab Emirates at $2.97bn in 2006 with costs rising to between $3.1bn - $3.9bn from 2007 to 2011.

With projects planned or under way across the Gulf region now valued at in excess of $1.6 trillion, the opportunities for lighting related companies have never been stronger.

Lighting at Middle East Electricity, the largest and longest running lighting event in the region, has built its reputation on the two criteria that are key to any trade show - its success in attracting the largest number of visitors of any lighting event staged in the Middle East, and the high quality of the visitors.

Water is also a pressing problem throughout the Middle East, the region currently ranking as the world's third largest water consumer.

Consumption is expected to rise by 44% before 2025 and, due to the lack of natural resources, water desalination capacity must double by 2015.

Dubai alone is implementing wastewater reclamation and desalination projects in excess of $53bn.

GCC utilities, facing record demand for water and power, are evaluating and implementing alternative sources of power.

Both Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia have committed to developing solar power.

Dubai is also considering plans to supply up to 10% of the Emirate's requirements with wind power.

Woodbridge has also announced the addition of a special focus area to the 2009 show - Nuclear energy. "With the UAE's announcement that it plans to set up an agency to assess and develop a peaceful nuclear energy programme embark on a partnership programme with governments and companies of responsible nations, it is vital that this area of the energy industry is represented," she said. "Nuclear energy is seen to represent a commercially and environmentally competitive option to meet the region's increasing demand for electricity, and our visitors will be keen to meet the world's nuclear energy experts next year".

"I have been very pleased with the quality of the visitors to our stand, which ranked amongst the best I have ever seen in water industry exhibitions'" said Christian Wee, Global Business Development Director, Aqualyng. "This is our fourth year at Middle East Electricity - this year's exhibition has been perfect," said Khalid Al Khamis, General Manager, KSS Sana. "The market and this show continue to grow in importance, and there were lots of new countries represented this year. All of the world is coming here".

Middle East Electricity is strategically important for Perkins, both in terms of being here and supporting our OEM's," said Michael Rosser of Perkins Engines, UK. "We have experienced high levels of demand and have generated orders during the show both from the telecoms industry and for high powered standby applications. It's been a very buoyant show, and has been even busier than last year".

With both repeat and new bookings already very strong, the organisers are confident that 2009 will see Middle East Electricity continuing its incredible growth.

A sister show, Power Generation and Water Middle East, will make its debut later this year (26-28 October) at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

"This new show is the result of intense industry demand," said Woodbridge. "In terms of market potential, it's clear that Abu Dhabi, with ambitious and visionary plans for development through to 2030, offers business potential of a scale never seen before".