Domotex Middle East Feeds Construction Boom

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, May 25, 2006--The Gulf's booming construction industry is paying rich dividends for international and domestic carpet and floor covering manufacturers, according to Gulf News. Newly built hotels, shopping malls and office complexes have accelerated demand for products ranging from silk rugs to marble tiles. Imports of carpets into the UAE have increased by more than 30 per cent since 2002 and contributed to an overall import value of furniture and other household items which hit Dh3.7 billion in 2004. Organizers of Sunday's Domotex Middle East trade fair for carpets and floor coverings claim new UAE property laws will pull these figures to new heights. "Companies in the flooring covering sector can see that there is huge business potential here," said Susanne Klaproth, of event organisers Deutsche Messe AG. "Since foreigners were first permitted to own property in the UAE, the market has witnessed a boom in interior room design, with the emphasis on individual style statements and high quality." UAE demand is mostly for floor coverings rather than carpeting, with laminate and wooden floorings proving especially popular. The three day exhibition will be the biggest first time show launched in Dubai and will feature 241 exhibitors 86 per cent of which will originate from overseas countries. Exhibitors from Turkey and the UAE are dominating the floor space, followed by Germany and India. Organizers claimed high demand forced them to increase the original display area from 12,000 square meters to 14,000. The event represents the first staging of the Domotex trade fair in the Middle East and only the second outside country of origin Germany.