2005 Office Exhibition set to break all previous records

Infrastructure development continues at a breathtaking pace throughout the Arabian Gulf - major projects underway include Dubai Healthcare City, Bahrain Financial Harbour, Dubai International Financial City and Dubai Pearl, while office development and the expansion of the industry sector looks certain to keep growing at a rapid rate. The total investment involved is estimated at over US $100 billion and the office sector is expected to account for 10% of this amount. The regional market for office interiors is, therefore, one of the most rewarding and lucrative anywhere in the world.

At the commercial heart of the region, Dubai's sophisticated and stable business infrastructure makes it the ideal location for the regional headquarters of major international companies.

Against this background, the Office Exhibition, a unique industry showcase of the best and most innovative office product and service developments, has grown in size and strategic importance since it began in 2002.

"The overwhelming international demand for floor space means that we have had to move the event to a larger venue - Dubai's state-of-the-art International Exhibition Centre," said Bernard Walsh, Managing Director of event organisers DMG World Media Dubai. "Already substantially larger than the 2004 show, Office 2005 will be a comprehensive showcase of the very latest industry developments - it will feature more exhibitors than ever before and has significant international support from the UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal and Greece."

At Office 2004, over 150 exhibitors from 30 countries were seen. Office 2005 will include familiar names such as Sedus Stoll (Germany), AllSteel (USA), ERSA (Turkey) and Tonon & Co. (Italy), plus the region's best known distributors - Bafco, Juma Al Majid, H20 Concepts and Marlin Furniture to name but a few.

"Office attracts the region's key decision makers; a high quality audience that has direct responsibility for the sourcing of furniture, interiors, systems and services for new and refurbished offices throughout the Arabian Gulf," added Paula Al Chami, Project Manager, Office. "The growth of the event is clear proof of the real business that is generated for exhibitors, both new and those who return every year. It is also in line with the phenomenal growth of Dubai, which has seen Office grow into the region's essential industry event for interior designers, suppliers, contractors and technology suppliers."

Committed to the development of the industry in the region, Office also features a series of free daily industry seminars chaired by leading authorities from around the world, and staged in association with Cityspace, the region's premier independent interior design consultancy. A regular component of the Office Exhibition, these seminars add further value to the event, acting as a unique forum for knowledge sharing and enabling the regional industry to keep abreast of international trends.

Office 2005 takes place from May 22-24 at Dubai International Exhibition Centre, and is open 11am to 7pm daily.