CONSTRUCT-light+building - International Trade Fair for Architecture and Technology in Abu Dhabi from 10-13 April 2005

The première indicated that there was plenty of growth in the pipeline and thus gave a sign for the second CONSTRUCT-light+building.

Next year, the fair will open its doors from 10 to 13 April 2005 and, as an association of three segments, present building materials, technical building equipment and building-related communication technology. New is the maintenance and renovation section with repair technology and equipment, renovation services and maintenance technology and services. The main theme of the fair is integrated planning, construction and building operation.

The General Exhibitions Corporation (GEC) & Messe Frankfurt, organisers of CONSTRUCT-light+building 2005 in Abu Dhabi, expect around 160 exhibitors to take part in the second edition of the fair and present product and services from the following segments over some 5,000 square metres of indoor exhibition space:


• Shell and renovation

• Roof, façade, interior work

• Sanitation, air-conditioning and ventilation technology

• Electrical engineering

• House and building automation

• Lighting technology, lamps and luminaires

• Escalators and lifts

• Measuring and control technology

• CAD software and other construction-related information software

The organisers anticipate welcoming around 3,000 trade visitors from the MENA, GCC, Middle East regions and Iran. The most important visitor target groups are investors, planners, operators, architects, interior architects, specialist planners, engineers and, also particularly important, officials from the state and local authority planning offices.

CONSTRUCT-light+building is held at the Abu Dhabi International Exhibition & Conference Centre (ADIEC), in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. With a total of 21,500 square metres of space, the exhibition halls are distinguished by ultra-modern facilities that meet all international standards.

The Emirates on the Persian Gulf represent the ideal setting for this trade fair. The bulk of the revenues from the sale of natural gas and crude oil remains in the region. These earnings are primarily invested in lucrative tourism projects, such as 'The Palm Island' project in Dubai. The diversification of the economy is the UAE, and Abu Dhabi in particular, combined with revenue from foreign investment, has had a stabilising effect. As a result of this foresight, the economy has been relatively immune to the effects of fluctuating oil prices.

Furthermore, the United Arab Emirates are systematically building up and expanding other fields of business. Besides tourism, the capital Abu Dhabi is developing into an important commercial centre for the Arabian Peninsula and the entire Middle East region. Today, the Emirates also constitute an important trading partner for Germany and German companies. In 2002, German exports rose by 6 percent to € 3.07 billion (2001: € 2.88 billion). The United Arab Emirates represent Germany's second most important trading partner in the Arabian world, after Saudi Arabia.

For the last five years, Messe Frankfurt has been uncompromisingly pursuing its concept of exporting successful trade fairs from Frankfurt to regional markets, with the aim of offering German and European companies high-grade export platforms. In 2003, Messe Frankfurt held 52 fairs and exhibitions outside Germany.

One of Messe Frankfurt's core areas of expertise is that of technical fairs, and Frankfurt is the home of the two biggest international trade fairs for integrated building technology, which are held in alternate years. The oldest of them, the biennial ISH - International Trade Fair for Building and Energy Technology, The Bathroom Experience, Air Conditioning and Ventilation Technology - has been held regularly over the last 40 years. The next ISH is scheduled for 15 to 19 March 2005. It is supplemented in the intervening years by Light+Building (23 to 27 April 2006), International Trade Fair for Architecture and Technology. Launched four years ago, Light+Building presents lighting, electrical engineering and house & building automation.