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‘Middle East Market offers Amazing Opportunities to North American Manufacturers’
“So while the Middle East offers amazing opportunities for North American office furniture makers, it affords those same opportunities to companies around the world. Wait too long to join and the market will be full” – MMQB 5/23/11
GCC interior design spend forecasted at US$5.67 billion in 2011, with further regional growth in 2012 – Ventures Middle East.
The GCC’s healthcare sector is set to grow by an annual rate of 11 percent and will be worth nearly $44bn by 2015 – Alpen Capital.
Demand for hotel rooms in the Middle East grew by nine percent in 2011, the highest growth rate in the world – STR Global.
Abu Dhabi plans to build 100 new schools in the next decade to meet the increasing needs across the emirate.- ArabianBusiness.com
The outlook for the commercial fit-out segment in the Middle East Region remains vibrant in 2012 as contractors look to support new infrastructure projects. North American products continue to be sought after by the region’s specifiers and end users, with an unequalled reputation for sustainable, design-lead products, manufacturing quality and after sales support.
Co-located with the Hotel Show, The Office Exhibition 2012 is the Middle East’s industry platform for premium office, health, education sector design and fit-out solutions and is the gateway to the business opportunities across the region. A must-attend event for the region’s architecture and design community, the show attracts visitors from across the wider Middle East and Africa.
As the North American agents for the Office Exhibition and Hotel Show, Independent provides a range of options including location within the North American Campus. Packages can be full turnkey, including premium space, stand build, show handling, international freight and an extensive marketing package in a very affordable package. Stand sizes are extremely flexible so as to best suit each exhibitor’s needs and budget.
We look forward to hearing from you and bringing your products to this rapidly growing market.
IIDA Presents Global Perspective to Architects and Designers in Dubai
Global demographics and technology have drastically changed architecture and design over the last 10 years. According to Cheryl Durst (Hon. FIIDA), Executive Vice President and CEO of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), a younger world and social media are transforming how people think about their relationships to work and the office environment must respond accordingly.
Ms. Durst was presenting to a group of senior architects and designers in Dubai on Jan 24 as part of a dmg::events industry gathering. As organisers of the Office Exhibition 2012 and the Index International Design Exhibition 2012, dmg::events invited the US-based professional association to deliver a global perspective on the business of interior design and what this means for practices in the Middle East.
“Worldwide, design is responding to a youth culture”, said Durst. “Te world is getting younger and the youth are more visually literate than their older counterparts. Lighting and colour are design priorities; as is speed. This demographic consumes their information in 15 second newsfeeds. Design must not only look great, it must function quickly”.
While architects and designers have always been trained to create spatial environments in the context of the end user’s experience, IIDA says the influence of design in commercial environments is more pervasive than it has ever been.
“Design has always been about the experience, but that also extends to marketing. Brands these days are focused on experiental marketing and interiors are a big part of the visual language. It is no longer enough to just know design. You have to understand its place within the marketing mix; its influence on organisational behaviours. Designers today would benefit from broadening their education to include subjects like marketing, psychology and anthropology”, said Durst.
Despite a younger, more digitally savvy and connected world, Durst added that the fundamentals of workplace design remain unchanged. “Ultimately, design is about people. It’s not just a facade or decoration. We will always need to consider the whole end user experience and so space, security and privacy are basic needs that a designer must always meet”, she said.
As the office knowledge partner for the Office Exhibition 2012, IIDA will return to Dubai later this year to deliver design seminars during the show, taking place from 15-17 May at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
“We are really pleased to have renewed our knowledge partnership with IIDA” said David Wilson, Event Director of the Office Exhibition. “As a global association they facilitate important dialogue between the local design community and product manufacturers to ensure the regional industry keeps paces with these trends.”
www.theofficexhibition.com
For more information on the opportunities for North American Interiors Manufacturers to bring their products to the Middle East market,contact exclusive North American agents Independent at Dubai@indyfrt.com.
Top Manufacturers Confirm Their Return to The Office Exhibition 2012 in Dubai
03 January 2012, Dubai UAE: The Office Exhibition 2012 will see a return of some of the world’s top designers of office furniture, organisers said today. The Middle East’s leading and largest industry platform for office design and fit-out solutions has confirmed the participation of some of the most sought-after brands from Europe, America and the Far East.
Responding to the increased demand from international and regional manufacturers, the 2012 exhibition will enjoy 30 per cent more floor space than the previous year. With 60 per cent of the show already sold, event organiser dmg :: events says exhibitors are optimistic about the growth opportunities in the region’s commercial fit-out market.
We’re definitely seeing renewed confidence in the UAE market among exhibitors. Even though the local real estate sector has slowed, The Office Exhibition is very much viewed as the gateway through which to tap commercial fit-out projects across the region, particularly in the GCC,” said David Wilson, Event Director of The Office Exhibition.
Among the top brands returning to the show is Japanese manufacturer Okamura, widely celebrated for its game changing Contessa Chair – an elegant and ergonomically designed mesh chair with a synchro-reclining mechanism. It will be Okamura’s first time exhibiting in the Middle East since 2007 and the manufacturer plans to demonstrate it has much more to offer than just seating.
“Having the opportunity to exhibit to a wide range of architects, designers and end users all in one place makes the show the ideal platform to launch our new and existing ranges to a wider audience. Historically, Okamura has only displayed our seating ranges at such shows, but in 2012 we will be launching our new and exciting ranges for commercial and education environments. 2012 is going to be an interesting time for Okamura. Watch this space,” said Patrick Taylor, Regional Brand Manager, Okamura.
Following the success of the 2011 show, which attracted the largest contingent of North American manufacturers on record, the U.S. Campus will this year double in size. Over 30 brands are expected to be represented at the country pavilion. Scott Savage, Regional Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa for HNI said, “Approximately 20 per cent of our projects in the region come directly from The Office Exhibition.”
The US Campus at Dubai Office Exhibition Opens
- Official Opening US Campus
Allsteel Stand – US Campus at the Office Exhibition Dubai 2011
Sagus at the US Campus – Office Exhibition Dubai 2011
KI stand at the US Campus – Office Exhibition Dubai 2011
Axess stand within the US Campus
Bernhardt Design at The Office Exhibition Dubai
US Campus
Joe Kashou meets with Rob Kirkbride of the MMQB at the Office Exhibition Dubai
Gunlocke at the Office Exhibition Dubai
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