Interiors UAE - Why Abu Dhabi?

Abu Dhabi provides a consistently strong climate for investment. As an emerging market, it has 9.5% of the world’s proven crude oil reserves and almost 4% of the world’s natural gas reserves.*

The state is already embarking on a huge infrastructure investment scheme, including a major enhancement of the international airport, a new exhibition/conference complex and a surge in luxury hotel and real estate development.

As well as attracting buyers from the Emirates, the GCC States and the rest of the world, exhibitors will also enjoy a unique setting and a mix of East and West. The well planned city, modern facilities, hotels and leisure amenities, combined with it’s heritage and culture, provide a warm welcome for all.

*Source: UAE Ministry of Finance and Industry (MOFI)

Abu Dhabi: The Perfect Interiors Investment

Sources:
Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Ameinfo.com - The Middle East Business Resource

The growth of Abu Dhabi.

The Middle East is one of the fastest growing regions of the world and indeed one forecast indicates that the Middle East GDP growth will continue up to 2030 and is expected to grow five fold in this period as a result of the continuing high oil price and high level of investment in the construction and tourist sectors.

There were over 2,100 projects either planned or underway in the Gulf region in 2005 and since then many more have been put in place. The growth of the hotel, property, construction and tourism markets is astounding, many of this being in Dubai, but this is now changing, with large developments now taking place in the capital, Abu Dhabi. In fact, Abu Dhabi is the most powerful of the 7 Emirates, occupying 86% of the UAE.

To support all of these completed and planned developments, work is underway to create world-class transport systems to link Abu Dhabi into a closer network with other Emirates and the wider world.

With more flights within the Middle East to Abu Dhabi than Dubai, Abu Dhabi is investing in new airports to manage both the local and international demand. This will involve an $8 billion plan for the international airport, involving the construction of a new terminal, adding to one still under construction, along with an air traffic control tower. The new facilities are expected to increase the airport’s passenger capacity by 20 million when it is completed in 2010. A major highway is also under construction to extend the Emirates road in Dubai to reach Abu Dhabi.

Ensuring Abu Dhabi is seen to encourage ecological awareness, a new 6km² energy, science and technology community will open in late 2009. The development is a unique, integrated ’Green Community’ in the heart of Abu Dhabi, which uses the traditional planning principals of a walled city together with existing technologies to achieve a zero-carbon and zero-waste sustainable development. Rooted in zero-carbon ambition, the city will be car free, powered by renewable energy with services digitally managed, providing real time information.

A cultural hub.

Abu Dhabi is also vying to become a world-class cultural hub, the new home of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, a performing arts centre, a maritime museum and the Sheikh Zayed National Museum.

A world class venue.

The venue for Interiors UAE, ADNEC, is the world’s first fully networked exhibition and lifestyle destination. With Phase 1 complete and another 5 phases to be finished in early 2011, ADNEC will house a new micro-city of 23 towers, including 6 branded hotels, 4 commercial buildings, 8 residential and serviced apartment complexes and 5 mixed use developments. Also featured will be a 2.3km waterfront Marina Zone, a proposed monorail and the ‘Galleria’ – a shopping mall with restaurants, retail outlets and cinemas.

It will feature a distinctive and iconic 35-storey Feature Tower, risen from the ground in a curving form, that will include a 200 room 5* hotel and 20, 000 square metres of office and retail space. Three bridges will connect the Centre to the Marina Zone which will be specially equipped to house super-yachts and marine exhibitions, also encompassing retail outlets, restaurants and entertainment facilities, providing investors with stylish low-rise residential offerings complete with scenic views of the canal.

Opportunities within Abu Dhabi and the UAE.

Abu Dhabi is the ideal location to build upon an existing international business portfolio or the perfect market to begin your global trade. With a booming property market of both residential and contract as well as an attractive retail market, the interiors market is expected to exceed $2.7 billion in 2008.

Interiors UAE is a brand new event set up to meet this ever-growing demand of interiors within the United Arab Emirates. Specifically aimed at the contract and retail markets, Interiors UAE offers a phenomenal platform for interior and exterior furnishing companies to showcase their products to a market that is rapidly expanding.

The retail market.

In stark comparison to the UK and other European countries, there is no seasonal cycle and retailers are constantly restocking their stores throughout the year ensuring a continual need for supply. There is a fusion of product in the area, allowing for varying tastes from the contemporary European to the traditional Arabic. Abu Dhabi is home to many of the European multiples including Debenhams and Habitat, but much of the buying market is also from independent retailers and hotels. 8,000 – 10,000 local and international visitors are expected from a full spectrum of profiles including retailers, contract buyers, architects, specifiers, interior designers, the public sector and local authorities.

The event.

Interiors UAE is targeting a contract and retail exhibitor base of 250 – 300 clients, made up of 30% domestic and 70% international, taking 9,000 net square metres of exhibition space. Increasing numbers of businesses and corporations are realising the benefits of being involved in the city and taking advantage of its free trade environment.

Companies cannot fail to win business within this constantly expanding market.

For more information on Interiors UAE, please call Cheryl Fraser on +44 (0)20 7921 8380.
www.interiorsuae.com