Domotex Middle East has opened a gateway for international players to expand into lucrative Gulf markets.

Domotex Middle East, the only dedicated carpets and floor coverings exhibition in the Mena region, has revealed that the projected 23 per cent annual growth of hotel and serviced apartment projects in the Gulf within the next three years will significantly boost the regional demand for diversity within the carpets and floor coverings industry, the organisers said.

This year's edition of Domotex Middle East - being held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 25-27, 2008 - has been earmarked by global players as an ideal platform to promote and distribute various world-class products, as well as establish networks and ultimately establish a strong presence in the lucrative Gulf market.

'The ongoing construction boom across all countries in the Gulf has obviously created a spike in demand for carpets and various other floor coverings. Global firms are now setting their sights on this rapidly growing sector and Domotex Middle East will serve as the perfect venue for them to facilitate their expansion activities in the region,' said Angela Schaschen, managing director, Deutsche Messe Dubai Branch, organisers of the global exhibition.

In the GCC alone, a compound annual growth rate of 23 per cent is expected among hotel and serviced apartment projects until 2010, according to a study by TRI Hospitality Consulting. This translates to over 77,872 new rooms expected to enter the GCC accommodation market by the end of 2010, increasing the room supply by 86 per cent in just three years.

'This huge new supply of hotels and serviced apartments will accordingly require an ample quantity of quality carpets and floor coverings. We are now feeling the impact of this remarkable new development as there are already almost 200 hotel projects in the GCC being announced, representing over 40,000 new rooms that need carpet furnishing and other flooring products. This certainly points to the strength and potential of the regional market,' said Schaschen.

Aside from the confirmed projects that have been included in TRI's research, several more projects that have yet to be confirmed were not included in the study.

With the inclusion of these non-confirmed hotel projects, the additional supply would further increase by up to 25 per cent, bringing the total additional rooms to over 100,000 by the end of 2010.

Moreover, holding Domotex Middle East in the UAE likewise delivers strategic benefits to various exhibitors and visitors of the exhibition as the country is currently the single largest hotel market in the GCC, accounting for a remarkable 73 per cent of the future total supply in the GCC.

Participants can further optimise their participation as nearly 70 per cent of the UAE's total projects are located in Dubai, the primary host of the global networking event.

Domotex Middle East 2008 will present a complete line-up of handmade and machine-made carpets; textile and resilient floor coverings; parquet and wooden flooring; laminates; sports arena flooring; fibres, yarns and textiles; cleaning and application technologies; ceramic tiles; and natural stone and marble floorings.

The international exhibition and trade fair is expected to gather a comprehensive line-up of wholesalers and retailers of floor coverings, decision makers in the contracting business, planners, architects, interior designers, construction companies, project planners, floor fitters and other skilled workers from the sector. – TradeArabia News Service