Dubai as hub for business in Middle East boosts materials handling sector

This positive development augurs well for the materials handling and logistics sector which is set to gather in the emirate from May 31 to June 2, 2009, which will be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition center, to display the latest the industry has to offer.

Materials Handling Middle East is The Ultimate International Exhibition for Logistics, Supply Chain, Freight and Cargo Industries!

Materials Handling Middle East 2009 is designed to provide the best platform for international exhibitors to showcase their products and services to a diverse visitor crowd.

The exhibition allows the exhibitors to penetrate and develop their market share in the GCC, Middle East, Africa, Indian subcontinent, and the CIS.

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed, the Patron of Materials Handling Middle East, has said that Dubai Airport Free Zone has achieved high growth rates in 2008 as occupancy for international companies increased by 58% leading to 84% increase in net profits and 59% in revenues compared to 2007.

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed noted that these growth rates will continue given the current expansion plans which have allocated Dhs2bn for investment in new facilities to be ready for more foreign investment flow in the near future.

Despite space-limitations, Dubai Airport Free Zone has made optimum utilization to provide more spaces for international companies and organizations.

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed also referred to the vital role Dubai Airport Free Zone plays in adding considerable value to the national economy, and Dubai's economy in particular. It focuses on attracting outstanding companies in different service sectors run by a professional team which has led to real growth in the emirate's economy.

Ms. Elisabeth Brehl, Managing Director of Epoc Messe Frankfurt GmbH, organizers of the exhibition, said:

"We welcome the support that His Highness Sheikh Ahmed has so generously granted to the Materials Handling Middle East exhibition. With the support of His Highness to this trade show, I am sure this will be another successful year in terms of the number of international and regional companies participating and the visitors that will come to this networking opportunity for the trade."

"With Materials Handling Middle East based in Dubai, this trade fair is ideally positioned for those exhibitors keen to reach markets in the Gulf and Middle East, the Indian Sub-continent, the CIS countries and Africa as Dubai is strategically located with excellent road and air connections to the region," Brehl added.

Press reports show Dubai's non-oil trade grew 38 per cent in 2008. Dubai's non-oil foreign trade with the rest of the world grew 38% in 2008 to Dhs934.7bn as compared to Dhs678.5bn in 2007. The figures released by Dubai World's Statistics Department highlighted growth in trade by Dhs256.2bn.

A Dubai World official said that Dubai's total foreign trade has maintained its steady growth pattern in 2008, reflecting the emirate's basic economic strength. Even during times of global economic fluctuations, Dubai has stayed on course of positive growth. A close study of the trade trend over the past 10 years shows that this pattern will continue in the coming years and Dubai will remain the leading trading hub in the region.

DP World, which manages a portfolio of more than 40 ports across the world, does not expect any decline in volumes at any of its ports within the region, according to a press statement.

"Our growth for this year will remain as projected and volumes at Regional ports will continue to witness double digit growth," said Jamal Majid bin Thaniah, Executive Vice-President for DP World, and Group CEO, Ports and Free Zone World in a press statement. "The region's economy is solid and capable of withstanding any possible impact from the current global financial crisis."

Jebel Ali Port, one of the largest in the world, is expecting more than 40% increase in cargo container throughout from the last Year's 9.9m TEUs (Twenty-foot equivalent units) to 14 million TEUs in February 2009.

Last year, UAE terminals increased container cargo through by 19% to 14m TEUs, with Dubai's ports of Jebel Ali and Port Rashid growing at 20% to reach 11m TEUs. The growth in UAE ports matched the 19% average set by the Middle East, Europe and Africa.

Materials Handling Middle East, now on its fifth year will have 250 exhibitors from 35 countries participating. The exhibitors will be from the Logistics, Supply Chain, Freight/Cargo, Automation, Information & Communication Technology fields.

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group said, "Materials Handling Middle East is an example of providing innovative solutions to the evolving advancement in transportation and logistics industries, along with several other large scale developments that are being built to mark U.A.E's leadership in these sectors. The transportation and logistics market of the U.A.E. is one of the most dynamic in the global business scene today."

Materials Handling Middle East 2009 will provide the exhibitors with the ideal business setting that encourages and initiates business transactions while maximizing and pushing the potential of trade limits.