225 exhibitors from 26 countries to participate in inaugural Building Futures Gulf by Batimat

The show will be held April 20-23, 2008 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and is organised by Reed Exhibitions Middle East with the support and participation of the International Union of Architects (UIA) and the UAE Contractor's Association.

Leading international names such as Saint Gobain Glass, Knauf, AFICO-Owens Corning, Technal, AMC Protection-Siplast, Dow Corning, Somfy, KME, Kingspan and Corus, and major local and regional companies including Tabreed, Emirates Iron & Steel, Unibeton and Emirates International Investment Company will have noticeable presence at the show.

A number of seminar sessions as well as the International Architects Conference that will be held in parallel with the exhibition will provide insights on current topics and future trends in the industry including energy efficiency, sustainable building performance, the 'wholelife value' of buildings and environmentally sustainable construction techniques.

A panel of experts comprising world renowned architects from the UK, Colombia, Nigeria, France, Italy, Turkey, Tunisia, Australia, UAE, Lebanon and Greece will address this conference which is themed around 'Fair Practices in the Building Sector'.

The exhibitors will display the latest innovations aimed at enhancing building performance including those focused on climate control, façade, structure and intelligence - all key aspects of modern building construction.

The umbrella event includes Structure Gulf Exhibition (focussing on structural technologies and implementation techniques); Envelope Gulf Exhibition (solutions for cladding, façade, joinery and shutters); Intelligent Building Gulf Exhibition (solutions, systems and networks to improve user comfort inside a building); and HVAC Gulf Exhibition (thermal comfort solutions focusing on temperature and air control, energy, plumbing and water treatment).

Building Futures Gulf by Batimat targets property developers and owners, architects, engineers, consultants, dealers and contractors. A dedicated services area is also provided for companies offering services and solutions. ALCTRA Middle East from Lebanon, a specialised consultant offering noise and vibration reduction solutions, and Glass Market consultancy from Holland are among the companies who will be located in the services area.

'Reed is very pleased to present Building Futures Gulf by Batimat. The event has been designed to provide a comprehensive look at the building sector via the specialised platform of the four shows which focus on key aspects of modern building construction encompassing the technical, energy-related, economic, environmental and safety aspects' , says Leonard Lecoq, Show Manager, Building Futures Gulf by Batimat.

'We believe the event comes at just the right time for the Middle East with the region's building sector maturing quickly and emphasis shifting to a focus on ensuring building performance and sustainability. The relevance of such an event to the market is reflected in the tremendous response we have received to the show', he added.

The first edition of Building Futures Gulf by Batimat has attracted exhibitors from 26 countries including France, the UK, the US, Germany, India, China, Italy, Belgium, Taiwan, Sweden, Kuwait, Hungary, Russia Canada, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Bahrain, , Qatar and Turkey. China will host country pavilions in the Structure Gulf Exhibition focused primarily on marble and stone, besides other sectors, while a pavilion showcasing Italian expertise in the HVAC sector will be organised in collaboration with Mostra Convegno Expocomfort - the biennial international exhibition that is the world's largest in the HVAC sector. A Turkish pavilion focussing on the Structural and Envelope elements of buildings will also be organised by IMMIB (Istanbul Mineral & Metal Exporter's Association). Pavilions from Kuwait and Taiwan will present general construction solutions.

'Abu Dhabi is the ideal venue in the Middle East for Building Futures Gulf by Batimat. Mega projects that are in the pipeline such as the Warner Bros. and Ferrari theme parks, the Louvre and Guggenheim museums, the Central Market and Capital Centre property developments are but a few examples that highlight Abu Dhabi's position as one of the most dynamic construction markets in the region', pointed out Lecoq. A report by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) states that over AED 850 billion will be invested in the Abu Dhabi construction market in the coming years.

Building Futures Gulf by Batimat will also feature the Business Meeting Programme (BMP) which enables visitors to log on to the event website and set up meetings with exhibitors thereby serving as an ideal business platform at the show.

Besides the Architects Conference, the Structure Gulf Exhibition will feature Ecosmart Seminars which will focus on the use of high-quality concrete that improves concrete durability, especially under extreme conditions typical in the region. The Envelope Gulf Exhibition will host TBC Seminars featuring presentations focusing on building envelope and joinery. The Intelligent Building Group (IBG) will organise presentations about intelligent building solutions and energy performance as part of the Intelligent Living Forum. Seminars will also be presented by Carrier and the Istanbul Mineral and Metals Exporter's Association (IMMIB).

'We are convinced that the exhibition and the parallel seminars & conferences will enjoy strong participation from stakeholders in the region's building sector. In fact, pre-registrations already show that most attendees at the exhibition and the conferences will be decision-makers and this is great news for our exhibitors,' stated Lecoq.

'We are also certain that people who are environmentally-conscious, particularly investors, will find the show very interesting.'