ME housing boom boosts demand for landscaping, outdoor living products

The exhibition is scheduled to take place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 25 to 27 2008.

'According to recent statistics, up to five million residential units are under construction in the GCC, including more than 1,400 new high-profile developments collectively valued at over Dhs2.5 trillion'. said Mr. Eckhard Pruy, CEO of Epoc Messe Frankfurt GmbH.

'The building boom will see hundreds of billions of dirhams being spent on new housing developments, apartment blocks, hotels, leisure facilities, office developments shopping malls and even islands over the next five years'.

He explained that this housing upsurge will fuel a secondary boom for the garden and landscaping sectors, as these developments will require hundreds of square kilometers of landscaping. 'Projects such as Dubailand will require vast amounts of landscaping, as will of course the Palm Islands and the World Projects. Add to this new golf courses and park facilities and it is not surprising that it is currently estimated that over Dhs60bn is expected to be spent on gardens and landscaping in the next five years'.

Mr Gavin A. Morlini, Senior Show Manager of Garden and Landscaping Middle East, forecasts that by 2010 'Dubai's new homes, apartments, hotels and clubs will see as many as 5,000 new swimming pools being built. The number of new houses currently being built will require over five million square meters of lawns to be laid. The spend on garden furniture will be nearly Dhs120m, while the spend on barbecues will be over Dhs37m. The outlay for paving stones, ornamental stones and decking for all types of developments will exceed Dhs210m according to our research'.

Mr. Morlini added that the Middle East, has over 2,100 projects either planned or underway in the Gulf region in 2006, of which the UAE and Saudi Arabia made up 29% and 20%, respectively.

With 15-25% of the world's construction cranes in operation, Dubai will remain the 'construction capital' of the Gulf. Yet Abu Dhabi is set to be 'the next Dubai', while Jeddah is benefiting from Saudi Arabia's development of its western region.

Further, Kuwait's construction industry is one of the most robust in the region, with a value nearing Dhs14.4bn and planned investments are estimated at over Dhs39.6bn according to construction industry estimates.

Residential demand in Kuwait is also at an all time high.

Although several major projects are currently in the pipeline, with over 70,000 units due to come online over the medium-term, there is a long waiting list for housing.

The Garden and Landscaping Middle East exhibition enjoys the support of Dubai Municipality, GardenEx, Society of Engineers, and the Taiwan Importers and Exporters Association.

Also participating in this year's exhibition are country pavilions from Italy, China, Indonesia, Germany, United Kingdom and Taiwan.