Over two-thirds of Arab Health visitors transact business at leading industry showcase

The visitor intentions were revealed in an independently audited survey of show participants carried out by the UK's Media Matters.

"As total visitor turnout rose 15% this year, the percentage contracting new business is bigger than ever," said John Hassett, Exhibitions Director, Healthcare Division, IIR Exhibitions and Conferences, which organises Arab Health.

"The survey showed that visitor numbers and quality surpassed the expectations of 98% of exhibitors."

Some 19,058 medical professionals attended Arab Health 2003, which occupied 12,180 square metres, featured 1,003 exhibitors from 50 countries and 20 national pavilions.

"The visitor turnout was truly international," said Hassett. "More than 50% came from outside the United Arab Emirates. In total 73% came from Gulf countries, 15% from the wider Middle East and North African region with the remainder involving significant numbers from Europe and the Sub-continent."

Almost three-quarters (72%) of visitors were prime decision makers with a full 75% saying the event has become a platform for the healthcare industry to launch new products. Over a quarter (27%) voted Arab Health as the only medical equipment and services exhibition they had attended in over a year.

Visitors to the annual showcase voted their main areas of interest as medical laboratory products and services (31.3%); pharmaceutical products and services (26.95%); I.T. in healthcare (22.18%); International Health Services (19.69%) and dental products and services (12.74%).

From an exhibitor perspective, a massive 98% said they had met their sales objectives.

IIR Exhibitions is now tipping Arab Health 2004 to be the biggest ever in the long-running series.

"We have booked all eight halls at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre - that's two more than this year's event," explained Hassett. In addition the 2004 event will also feature a new exhibition - Hospital Design and Interiors - which will run alongside Arab Health."

HDI will focus on the challenges of creating healthcare environments that improve care quality while increasing efficiency and profitability.

"HDI will bring together care providers and healthcare executives from both the public and private sectors as well as facility planners/managers, designers, architects and contractors within a forum that showcases the most progressive healthcare design developments," explained Hassett.