gulfBID 2008, the leading building and interiors exhibition for the Northern Gulf,  is set to break records with total visitor numbers likely to exceed 5,000.

More than 1,200 visitors attended the show on the first day itself.

With a $1m deal signed by Alomi Real Wood Floors on the opening day, the event is also likely to generate more business for exhibitors than ever before.

'This has been the best first-day ever and there are signs that things are just going to get better for the record number of exhibitors this year,' said Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE) managing director Jubran Abdulrahman.

'We already have the largest number of exhibitors for the event, up 25 per cent from last year's 155 to 200 from 19 countries this year and the feedback we are getting from them is very good.

'The show has generated a lot of excitement and a lot of local, regional and international exhibitors are already asking to sign up for next year with many of them wanting more space for the next event.'

gulfBID 2008, which is being held under the patronage of Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, is one of the largest-ever events to be staged at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre.

It is organised in a joint venture between HCE and dmg World Media Dubai.

The exhibition, which was opened by the prime minister om Tuesday closes this evening.

It is the ideal business-to-business opportunity for key industry leaders and professionals from the construction and interiors industry at a time of unprecedented demand across the region. It is open to trade and business visitors only. -TradeArabia News Service