Momentum of 18% growth of Bahrain's property sector in 2008 to boost local carpets and floor coverings market

Domotex Middle East 2009 will be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 17 to 19, aiming to boost the regional wholesale market for carpets and floor coverings by providing a suitable platform for buyers and suppliers to transact and identify new business opportunities.

A 2008 Bahrain Stock Exchange report recently revealed that local real estate trade amounted to BD1.65bn in 2008, representing an impressive 18 per cent increase over 2007.

Planned strategic government-backed projects such as the BD140m expansion of the Bahrain International Airport will further boost tourism and spur hospitality-related developments, thus extending the property growth trend in 2009 and onwards. This will benefit related sectors such as interior design and carpets and floor coverings.

Angela Schaschen, Managing Director, Deutsche Messe Dubai Branch, said:

"Bahrain's property businesses still thrived in 2008 despite the emergence of the global financial crisis. This bodes well for the future of the country's carpets and floor coverings trade, which Domotex plans to fully capitalize on. Bahrain already has a solid reputation for creating innovative and exquisite decorative materials such as curtains, carpets, ceiling, flooring, venetian blinds and wall covering, which the exhibition will help further promote at the regional and international levels."

This year's edition of Domotex Middle East will feature two special segments - Creative Flooring and Designers Corner - that will showcase materials, products, techniques and trends in carpet and flooring designs for the hospitality and office sectors.

Creative Flooring will gather professionals from the UK who will demonstrate the latest hotel and office floor laying skills, while the Designers Corner will exhibit the latest designs in flooring to interior designers and architects.

Domotex Middle East has likewise established a key partnership with the Association for Professional Interior Designers (APID) to collaborate in key areas of the exhibition, including the inaugural Flooring Seminar, which will facilitate discussions with APID members about the role of flooring in interior design.

Domotex Middle East 2009 will showcase a complete line of handmade and machine-made carpets; textile and resilient floor coverings; parquet and wooden flooring; laminates; sports arena flooring; fibres, yarns and textiles; cleaning and application technologies; ceramic tiles; and natural stone and marble floorings.

The exhibition and trade fair attracts key industry players such as wholesalers and retailers of floor coverings, decision makers in the contracting business, planners, architects, interior designers, construction companies, project planners, floor fitters and other skilled workers from the sector.