Tickets go on sale for the region's leading event for home owners

Mr. Christopher Hudson, Exhibitions Director of Messe Frankfurt, said: 'We have decided to donate part of the proceeds from the sale of tickets at the Dubai Ideal Home Show 2006 for the Support Lebanon campaign in order to lend a helping hand to a worthy cause. Tickets are currently on sale.'

The region's leading event for home owners, which brings together a host of experts in various sectors from interior designing to property and culinary art, is scheduled to be held from November 30th - December 3rd, 2006 at the Airport Expo Dubai.

Tickets could be purchased from Time Out Ticket Line on 800 4669 or online at www.timeouttickets.com. Tickets will also be available directly at the show, or at the box office onsite once the show opens. The AED20 ticket per person gives access for all four days of the show and children under 16 accompanied by parents are allowed free entrance.

Organizers have also arranged for group discounts - for every three tickets an extra ticket could be had for free. Further discounts are also available through official media partners.

'The premier event had last year attracted more than 7,500 visitors and we are sure this year the visitor number is expected to rise significantly following the participation of a host of celebrity chefs and renowned designers who have pledged their support for the show,' said Mr. Hudson.

Some of the renowned designers who will be participating at the show include Lawrence Llewelyn Bowen, Linda Barker, Paul Bishop, Gordon Russell and Mary Gilliatt and landscape expert Grant Donald who will appear at the Jotun Inspiring Ideas Theatre along with Feng Shui expert Georgia Kiafi. Celebrity chefs including Osama El Sayed, Sanjeev Kapoor and Ainsley Harriott will appear at the Tefal Taste Temptation Theatre.

'The Dubai Ideal Home Show 2006 with its focus on 'home' is a perfect opportunity for visitors to express their solidarity with those suffering in Lebanon because of loss or damage of property,' added Mr. Hudson.

According to the UN Development Programme (UNDP), damage following the bombings in Lebaon is so severe that 15 years of reconstruction and rehabilitation are now completely destroyed. Amongst the major problems Lebanon faces is access to clean water as a result of bombing of underground waterpipes and sewers along with the mass destruction of civilian infrastructure, said the UNDP report.

'With several thousand visitors expected to attend the show, we are optimistic that the ticket sale will be considerably more than last year. As organizers we have already committed to extend part of the proceeds to 'Support Lebanon' campaign,' Mr. Hudson said.

Several leading international humanitarian organizations, the International Red Crescent & Cross, the Popular Solidarity Institute and banks in the region have been arranging aid from various sources to be distributed in Lebanon.

'We will be sending the donation to a suitable organization that will ensure that the aid reaches the needy in Lebanon through proper channels. The donated amount will also be announced at an appropriate time in the future,' Mr. Hudson remarked.