Domotex Middle Set for Kick-Off

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, June 6, 2007--After its record breaking premiere in 2006 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre's (DICEC) largest launch show in its 27 year history, Domotex Middle East 2007, the Middle East's only specialised flooring and carpet exhibition, will return with an unprecedented variety of products as well as new features for exhibitors and visitors alike.

Domotex Middle East 2007, attracting designers, architects and floor-laying professionals as well as buyers, has shattered last year's record breaking opening with more exhibitors and more countries represented this year, with 268 confirmed exhibitors from 37 countries covering 14,000 square metres of exhibition space. Domotex Middle East 2007 is organised by Deutsche Messe, one of the world's foremost trade exhibition organisers with some 50 events worldwide.

'The growth of the region, particularly the Gulf, continues unabated and competition for space at Domotex Middle East is becoming more intense than ever reflecting the construction industry's seemingly endless need for new flooring products,' said Susanne Klaproth, Director Domotex - Hannover, Shanghai, Dubai, Deutsche Messe AG.

'More than 80% of our total exhibition space has been taken by an impressive list of 239 companies based outside of the UAE.'

News of the show's opening success in 2006 has travelled widely and has consequently expanded the fair considerably with 159 new exhibiting companies, including first-time representation from France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Norway and Poland and the country pavilions debuts of Afghanistan, Austria, Germany and The Netherlands. The new pavilions join an already impressive list of past participants that include Belgium, China, India, and the USA.

'We have made an exhaustive effort to ensure that we have the most innovative companies in their field exhibiting,' said Klaproth. 'Flooring makes the difference and with an increasing desire for new products to fill the needs of large scale construction projects, the market has demanded variety. With Domotex Middle East, we aim to provide it.'

The exhibition's prestige has attracted many product launches, including 'duraAir', the first carpet floor covering that wholly or partly neutralises odours while releasing healthier air by Dura Flooring Systems GmbH and the Antico line from STIA Holzindustrie GmbH which makes new flooring look antique.

In addition to the new products, the exhibition will be featuring the eleven winners of The Carpet Design Awards (CDA) from Domotex Hannover 2007, the world's largest carpet and floor covering exhibition. The winners were chosen from 140 entrants representing 15 countries.

'Displaying these winning designs is part of our strategy to ensure our visitors are aware of the most innovative and the highest quality products in the industry,' said Klaproth.

'The diversity of the entrants and of the winners of this prestigious competition is testament to the broad scope of the Domotex brand and the quality of the exhibitors who choose to participate in the fair.'

In a new, interactive part of the show, Domotex Middle East will be presenting 'Creative Flooring', a live demonstration area for interior designers, decorators and floor-laying professionals. Presented by The Flooring Industry Training Association (FITA), the authoritative education and training institution for the British carpet and hard surface flooring installation industry, the demonstrations will allow visitors to see the cutting edge of fitting techniques while sharing best practice solutions and innovations in mixed material combinations.

'Visitors to Domotex Middle East will not only get an overview of products, pricing and design, but will learn techniques to surpass their competition in quality and aesthetics,' said Klaproth.

'These techniques will give visitors the tools they need to make the spaces they work on functional, unique and beautiful.'

Domotex Middle East 2007 is also projecting uplift in visitor turnout as trade professionals from across the world pre-register to attend in advance. Based on figures provided by Deutsche Messe - Dubai Branch, nearly 50% of visitors are of management status and have direct purchasing authority.

'These numbers are further evidence that Domotex Middle East attracts some of the world's top buyers. It's easy to see why Domotex Middle East 2007 exhibitors will showcase the entire spectrum of flooring products and related services from the largest collection of hand-made and machine-made carpets and area rugs in the Middle East to cleaning and application technologies, adhesives, underlays and coatings,' said Angela Schaschen, Managing Director, Deutsche Messe Dubai branch, the regional office of Deutsche Messe.

Domotex Middle East 2007 is being held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Department of Civil Aviation, Government of Dubai and Chairman of the Emirates Group. The show has the official support of the UAE Contractors Association and the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID) in the Gulf region.