“Arab Carpet and Flooring Expo 2017: Providing a platform to the Middle East flooring market which is expected to reach USD 10 billion in 2026 primarily due to the growth in construction activities in the GCC: An Interview with the Organiser”
- Please provide a brief overview of the details of the Second Edition of Arab Carpet and Flooring Expo 2017 and the differences between this edition and the First Edition.
From the experience gained during our First Edition, we need to improve in 2 key areas to make a more successful event in our Second Edition. These 2 areas were the number of visitors and also increasing the number of Flooring Exhibitors in other sectors of the industry such as Wood, Parquet, Laminate, Vinyl, Stone, Ceramic etc. As a result for 2017, we have worked to improve on these 2 areas by first of all having our Event at the exact same time (12-14 September 2017) as ADIHEX which is one the regions premium and most visited shows with over 100,000 visitors, and also in regards to the other flooring sectors, we are enhancing the show by having more exhibitors in these other flooring areas. In regards to ADIHEX it is important to note that this is a special event for Hunting and Equestrian which is the number 1 pass time in the Arab World for VIP’s, Professionals and Wealthy individuals. Therefore, the Visitors that come to ADIHEX are very relevant for our Event, especially the Carpet side as our Exhibitors will be interested in making connections with the rich, wealthy and professionals of Abu Dhabi, the UAE and all the other nations of the region.
- What percentage of the Exhibition are you expecting will be filled by Exhibitors from Iran?
Considering that Iran is one of the strategic players and world leaders in both Machine-Made and Handmade Carpet, we always expect a good turnout of Exhibitors from Iran. In our First Edition, 20% of our Exhibitors were from Iran and we expect the same proportion of Exhibitors in the Second Edition, especially given the fact that their brand will be seen by many relevant visitors in this Edition and it is an excellent opportunity for them to expand their network.
- What are the reasons why you selected Abu Dhabi as the host city for this event and what benefits does the Middle East region have for the Carpet and Flooring industry?
Our founding reason and symbol for selecting Abu Dhabi as the city for Arab Carpet and Flooring Expo is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque which has the world’s largest handmade carpet (created by Iran for Abu Dhabi) and it also has world-class mosaic stone flooring all around the mosque. However, other important key reasons for selecting Abu Dhabi are the ease of entry and access for exhibitors and visitors in the region and internationally in regards to both Visa and also Airlines/Flights as well as Hotels, as well as the fact that it is a growing city with a lot of potential for investment where Exhibitors in the Carpet and Flooring industry can take advantage of the $37 Billion USD worth of projects that are being planned to be developed by 2020 in Abu Dhabi with more details in the following article “Projects to be completed by 2020 in Abu Dhabi”: http://www.designmena.com/portfolio/top-10-abu-dhabi-projects-to-be-completed-by-2020. In addition, the Middle East flooring market is expected to reach USD 10 billion in 2026 primarily due to the growth in construction activities in the GCC.
- What are the reasons why a company would select to become an Exhibitor at Arab Carpet and Flooring Expo?
From an Organisers perspective it is important that we bring “relevant” visitors to the Event so that the Exhibitors can build and expand their network. In this Second Edition, we are paying special attention to both quality and quantity of visitors through not only having a fully sold out ADNEC venue because of being alongside ADIHEX but also making sure we invite designers, retailers, wholesalers and other important visitors that the Exhibitors need to make relationships with to the Event. As a result we have established an even stronger relationship with the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID) so that they invite even more of their members to the Second Edition than they did to the First Edition.
- What products will be displayed by the Exhibitors at Arab Carpet and Flooring Expo?
We are inviting Exhibitors in the following areas: Machine-made Carpets and Rugs, Handmade Carpets and Rugs, Wood and Parquet, Textile Floor Coverings (wall-to-wall), Laminate, Resilient Floor Coverings, Fibres, Yarns and Textiles, Natural Stone, Marble and Ceramic Tiles, Artificial Grass and Sports Flooring, Machinery and Technology, Laying Skills, Cleaning and Application Technology, Associations and Publications.
- What kind of Visitors are you expecting at Arab Carpet and Flooring Expo?
In regards to Visitors, we are inviting Agents / Distributors, Manufacturers, Interiors Designers and Architects, Importers / Exporters, Contractors, Decorators, Wholesalers, Consultants, Home Owners and Private Buyers, VIP’s, Retailers, Engineers, Associations and Trade Media.
- Please provide a brief overview of ExCo Media as the Organiser of Arab Carpet and Flooring Expo.
ExCo Media started in 2010 in London, UK. It has a special focus on the Middle East and organises and supports events in this region only. We organise and support events in different industries and have worked and are in the process of working within countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman.
- Based on your experience and opinion, why have Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Istanbul become the hub of International Events in the Middle East Region?
Iran has a huge market and has the potential to be a leader in the region regarding foreign trade. We envisage a bright future for Iran because of the improvement of its international relations in recent years. However, in regards to the mentioned cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Istanbul, and being a more popular destination for international events, from our experience this can be due to several factors such as ease of access to these mentioned cities for both visitors and exhibitors in regards to visas and number of options of flights, hotels etc, high quality international standard Venues and Exhibition Halls and facilities, ease of financial transaction transfers to and from these cities and a more straight forward and efficient process for obtaining permit/licenses for the Event.
By: Behnam Ghasemi – Kohan Textile Journal
