Dubai hosted 180 expos in 2 years

While property experts have noticed a change in the way exhibitors showcase their projects during property expos, this change does not rule out the fact that the exhibition sector is a stand-alone and profitable industry, regulated and managed by various companies. In fact, reports estimate the total value of property expos to be in the region of Dhs12m annually.

Says Ziad Bushnaq, Cornerstone Properties Real Estate CEO:

"The essence of property expos does not only revolve around 'buy and sell' transactions, but rather the exposure that companies gain. Through these expos, companies are actually advertising themselves and promoting their services, projects and unique characteristics in order to attract the attention of investors and decision makers."

Bushnaq, whose company runs the marketing of numerous projects in the UAE, Jordan and Syria, added: "Strong or weak exhibition attendance does not reflect the market situation in any country, as market movement is determined by attraction factors and investors' ability to seize profitable opportunities, not by the attendance at any given exhibition."

Statistical reports show that Dubai hosted in excess of 180 expos at the Dubai Conference and Exhibition Center during the last 2 years, with participating companies promoting gross product to the value of more than Dhs5.5bn. Reports also show that more than 30 companies are currently active in the exhibition sector.

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the number of private sector companies that are active in the exhibition sector is estimated at 82. The Saudi exhibition sector represents 65% of the GCC market, followed by the UAE at 17.3%.

Kuwait experts report that the exhibition sector in the country has risen by a staggering 70% during the global financial crisis, as exhibitions have become an excellent outlet for direct marketing due to its unique characteristics. Kuwait now holds 60% of the Middle East's exhibition and conference sector.