Light Middle East, the region’s premier exhibition and conference for lighting, design and technology, has been rescheduled to September 2021, said the event organiser Messe Frankfurt Middle East (MFME).

 

The three-day event was initially set to run in January 2021, but will now take place from September 28 to 30 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, where it will co-locate with two other MFME-organised shows: SPS Automation Middle East, a platform for innovative industrial automation solutions; and Middle East Cleaning Technology Week, the region’s foremost commercial cleaning and hygiene exhibition.

 

The 14th edition of Light Middle East in 2019 had featured more than 300 exhibitors from 32 countries hosting 6,343 trade visitors coming from 83 countries, the statement from MFME said. 

 

Dishan Isaac, Senior Show Manager for Light Middle East, said the move is widely supported after careful consideration and consultation with industry stakeholders, including exhibitors, trade professionals, and supporting associations.

 

"Moving Light Middle East to September 2021 is in the best interest of our valued customers, and the co-location with SPS Automation Middle East and Middle East Cleaning Technology Week offers a level of synergy around the built environment," remarked Isaac.

 

"In its 15th edition, the expo will solidify its position as the region’s number one networking and sourcing platform for the entire scope of architectural, decorative, technical, industrial, indoor and outdoor lighting solutions," he stated.

 

Issac said the platform will be packaged with the return of the Thinklight Forum, "offering insights and reflection on the evolution of our industry, particularly in light of the pandemic we’re now navigating."

 

According to him, Light Middle East’s popular Thinklight webinar series will continue, while a new track will be launched under the theme of intelligent buildings: ‘IB Tech.’ 

 

"The adoption of smart building technologies has been accelerated in the current environment, and we have an important role to play in facilitating discussions and sharing industry best practice," he noted.

 

"Intelligent systems can now help with everything from enforcing social distancing and enhancing air quality in addition to regular areas such as improving energy efficiency in HVAC," he added.

 

After a dip in value in 2020, the Middle East architectural lighting market will continue on an upward trajectory, with analysts 6WResearch forecasting the market to be worth $4.3 billion in 2026, growing six per cent annually from an estimated $3.1 billion in 2021. 

 

The growth, according to 6WResearch, will be fuelled by a growing urban landscape and smart city government initiatives, along with a regular flow of infrastructure development projects. 

 

That will be welcome news for the 300-plus expected exhibitors and 6,000 visitors at Light Middle East 2021, which will open just a few days ahead of the Expo 2020 Dubai, which takes place from October 1 next year to March 31, 2022, remarked Issac.

 

Held under the theme Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, Expo 2020 Dubai is expected to attract more than 25 million visitors, with 70 percent coming from outside of the UAE, he stated.

 

"Once Light Middle East concludes, international exhibitors and visitors can take advantage of their time in Dubai and explore the myriad country pavilions and unique features of this six-month long mega event," he added.-TradeArabia News Service