Gulf Construction Online - Sell-out show set to dazzle Bahrain

gulfBID

Bahrain’s Premier at the last edition of gulfBID.

Sell-out show set to dazzle Bahrain

Bahrain’s premier construction show, gulfBID 2013 is going from strength to strength with an impressive line-up of participants.

01 April 2013

GULFBID, the annual exhibition for the Northern Gulf’s construction industry, will be the biggest and most comprehensive yet following confirmation that Hall One of the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC) is now sold out.

Such has been the overwhelming response to the flagship show that organiser Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE) of Bahrain has set up a waiting list for the May 7 to 9 showcase, which is traditionally held under the patronage of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of Bahrain.

Given the overwhelming thumbs up from participants at the 2012 edition, the stage is set for gulfBID 2013, which is expected to build on the positive sentiment of a regional construction sector buoyed by healthy economic indicators and the prospect of billions of dollars worth of new projects on the horizon.

Jubran Abdulrahman, managing director, HCE says: “We are naturally delighted with the tremendous response to gulfBID 2013. The fact that there is now a waiting list for prospective participants demonstrates unequivocally the show’s ongoing value proposition, which we strive to realise for all exhibitors and partners.

“What is particularly encouraging this year,” says Abdulrahman, “is the number of Bahraini companies who are, in association with Tamkeen (Bahrain’s Labour Fund), putting their trust in gulfBID for the first time as their first B2B networking and promotion opportunity. We look forward to establishing a close rapport with them and all exhibitors in what we hope is a long-term and above all profitable relationship with the show.”

gulfBID2013 will continue a fine tradition it started in 2006 of bringing top names in the specialist construction, contracting and related sectors into direct contact with decision-makers, from senior project managers to procurement personnel, from across the region. Another tradition that will be maintained this year will be a commitment to continually improving the exhibitor and visitor experience, including a raft of new product and services launches.

The 2012 edition attracted more than 6,500 visitors over three days.

Adding further value to the 78 participating companies – some of whom will be first-time exhibitors including Haji Hassan Group, Al Bait, Kavalani, Al Abd Group and Al Moayyed International from Bahrain – HCE has bolstered its gulfBID 2013 marketing strategy in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, ensuring high visibility at strategic locations in a booming area of the region’s largest economy, where billions of dollars-worth of construction projects are under way.

Underpinning the show’s longevity is the public and private sector support it enjoys. This includes the enduring popularity of Tamkeen’s Tarweej scheme, whereby up to 80 per cent of the participating costs for eligible Bahraini companies are subsidised.

Other supporters of gulfBID 2013 include Bahrain’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bahrain Exhibition and Convention Authority (Beca), the Arab German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Ghorfa) and British Expertise.

gulfInteriors

To be held alongside gulfBID next month is gulfInteriors, an exhibition that caters to the diverse tastes of a discerning – and increasingly wealthy – visitor base from both Bahrain and neighbouring Gulf states.

As many as 58 companies have confirmed their participation in this premier interiors event. The 2013 edition of the show is being held at a time when the interiors industry is booming, with developers of upcoming hotel projects in the GCC countries expected to spend an estimated $1.65 billion on fit-out and interior design, or about 22.5 per cent of total project costs of $7.33 billion.

The Ventures Middle East 2012 Report, which analyses trends in the GCC interior contracting and fit-out market, singled out Saudi Arabia’s interiors and fit-out sector, whose value grew 125 per cent year on year in 2012 to $3.5 billion, roughly twice the UAE’s growth rate.

This report comes within the context of a broader construction spending boom in the GCC. According to reports, the four Northern Gulf states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia) could see roughly $1-trillion worth of new construction projects over the next five to 10 years alone, from infrastructure projects such as new airports (some $14.6-billion worth of projects are planned in Saudi Arabia over the next 20 years) to residential and commercial real estate projects.

Also, Saudi Arabia reportedly needs at least two million homes by 2014 to keep up with current population growth rates, while Bahrain plans to build more than 100,000 residential units over the next 10 years.

In Qatar, state-owned Lusail Real Estate Development Company is building a new city – which is designed to accommodate 200,000 residents – in time for the 2022 Fifa World Cup while in Kuwait some $62-billion worth of new housing projects were expected to be launched over the last year.

With such an impressive project pipeline, it is hardly surprising that interior fit-out and design specialists are positioning themselves for the windfall, establishing their regional presence and building their capabilities and product portfolios accordingly.

gulfInteriors made its debut in Bahrain three years ago originally to complement and run concurrently with the well-established gulfBID exhibition. The show today has a unique brand identity, attracting the crème-de-la-crème of the interiors, design and furniture worlds.

Reflecting the demand and tastes of the regional market, the show has since expanded and adapted. HCE will seek to capitalise on the regional feel-good factor by staging an inspirational showcase for home-grown and renowned international brands covering sectors including furniture, paints, kitchens, bathrooms, lighting, ceramics, wall coverings and art and accessories segments, in a creatively charged yet distinctly boutique atmosphere.

Abdulrahman says: “Since 2010, gulfInteriors has developed a flavour and character all of its own. While it still strongly complements the overwhelmingly successful gulfBID, the interiors show has also carved a niche as a place where specialist product and service providers can mingle and do business with project managers, specifiers, buyers and even home owners. We are committed to broadening the appeal of the exhibition and offering something of interest to everyone – since every visitor to gulfInteriors is a prospective customer for the exhibitors.”

gulfInteriors is supported by Bahrain’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Tamkeen and Ghorfa.

Property show

Finally, this year’s edition of gulfBID has further expanded its scope to include a dedicated real estate event called the Gulf Property Show which will throw the spotlight on developers, investors, regional authorities, service providers and consultants.

Complementing both gulfBID and gulfInteriors, the Gulf Property Show has Manara Developments as its strategic sponsor, Bahrain Financial Harbour and Saar Central as ‘gold’ sponsors as well as the support of Tamkeen and the Bahrain Property Development Association (BaPDA).

Last year’s gulfBID and gulfInteriors shows attracted more than 6,500 visitors.