Inaugural DOMOTEX Middle East attracts visitors from over 70 countries

The event, which is the fastest-selling, new-to-market trade show in the history of the Dubai World Trade Centre, will now run annually mirroring its success in Europe and China. Organised by Deutche Messe AG Hannover, one of the world's top three trade fair companies, DOMOTEX Middle East had pavilions from six different countries and 241 exhibitors from 35 countries, of which 86 per cent were from overseas.

"The show has given the Middle East flooring and carpeting industry a great deal of international exposure with over 39 per cent of the visitors coming from abroad. It also gave the overseas exhibitors regional contacts,"

said Angela Schaschen, Managing Director, Messe Middle East, the regional representative of Deutsche Messe AG Hannover.

"We had a high number of trade buyers from the UAE, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, India and Germany. Nearly 40 percent of our visitors were key decision makers. Carpets and rugs were the main focus for more than a third of the visitors, followed by textile floor coverings, parquet and other wooden floors," said Angela Schaschen.

The visitor groups included wholesalers and retailers of floor coverings, decision
makers in the contract and property development business, planners, architects and interior designers, interior decorators, construction companies and property investors, as well as their buyers and project managers, floor fitters and other skilled workers in this sector.

"It was the first time that we have exhibited in Dubai and we never dreamed about such a success", said parquet producer Witex from Germany. "We already signed a contract with Syria for US$ 100,000, which will be followed by another US$ 1 million contract. We will be back next year!"

"I can see this exhibition really growing. We expect to generate AED 10 Million out of our participation," said Sultan Salem Al-Qaiwani from Dubai based Merinos.

"This show has been a phenomenal success for us. On the first day, we had an order worth US $ 1 million from a customer in Saudi Arabia. I've taken part in many exhibitions and DOMOTEX Middle East has been the best so far," said Albert Douglas, from the UK's Alomi Real Wood floors LLC.

Meanwhile, another UK exhibitor, Bloor Floors, also reported a sales windfall of almost US $230,000. "Within 48 hours, we took two major orders from a customer in Saudi Arabia. This show attracted real decision makers and we will definitely be coming back next year," said Salman Haider, Senior Export Officer of Walls & Floors Middle East FZCO.

The stage is now set for DOMOTEX Middle East 2007, which will be held from June 11-13 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. DOMOTEX Middle East was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Department of Civil Aviation, Government of Dubai and Chairman of the Emirates Group and with the official support of the UAE Contractors Association.