IFEX 2004 opens tomorrow with significant growth in area and participation

"We are pleased with the response and support that we have received from our Patron, partners and supporters of IFEX 2004", said Mr. Ahmad Al Mazrouie, Acting Director General of the GEC. "We look forward to earning and confirming IFEX as the leading event in the interior design sector, setting the latest interior design trends in the region and in turn, to provide the market with continuous service with its increasing demand" he added.

IFEX 2004 promotes high end interiors and furnishings for Homes, Hotels and Yachts pacing its way to set new interior design trends regionally. Growing in capacity and attendance, IFEX this year has a net space of 5,612 sqm and a gross space of 13,340 sqm. Also, is has been estimated that this year, IFEX is 30% larger than IFEX 2003. With 150 participating companies coming from 10 different countries, IFEX's business opportunities have stabilised with around 68% of exhibitors for 2004 being repeat business to the show, from the year of its inception in 2002.

"The GCC markets are expected to increase by 20% in the Interior Design sector due to the demand of 70% in classic furniture, 20% in neoclassic furniture and 5% in modern furniture" commented Al Mazrouie.

With the growth of the tourism and residential sectors in the United Arab Emirates, the number of hotel groups in the Middle East is expected to grow dramatically over the next few years, therefore, increasing the demand for hotel furniture and furnishings. Here, IFEX will provide design and turn key solutions for interiors from individual clients to corporations, increasing the market's awareness of high end products and designs.

The IFEX 2004 Design Awards; organised for the first time by the General Exhibitions Corporation (GEC) is also part of the commitment to the Interior Design Industry in the United Arab Emirates and will be held on 18th February 2004 at 13.30 hrs at the Main Conference Hall, ADIEC. Opening the doors for university students to show off their unique talents, the IFEX Design Awards' conceptual area will take place in an area of 350 square metres, where over 60 students from 4 universities will participate; Zayed University, The American University of Sharjah, The American University of Dubai and Ajman University.

IFEX still grows; year by year its growth has been noted. It is estimated that by the 8th or 9th session, IFEX will have maintained its growth reaching a net space of 17,697 sqm and gross space of 40,500 sqm in the year 2009. Along with IFEX's growth comes the growth of its visitors; from the year 2002 to 2003, visitors increased from 7,953 to 8,126 and this year; it has been foreseen to be an increase by 15%.

With continuous support, IFEX will continue to support and hence cultivate its trends across the market, becoming the Interior Design hub of the Middle East. By spreading its services in concepts of Interior Design across a scale that serves individuals to corporations, IFEX will soon become the Verona of the Gulf.