The Middle East Maritime industry is bouncing back and experience strong and steady growth, according to the participants of a discussion hosted by Seatrade Middle East Maritime (SMEM), the region’s leading event for the maritime and shipping industry, taking place in Dubai in October.

“Twenty Ten has been a year the industry did not expect to turn round for them but by mid year it has done just that. People are more confident to spend and invest and we understand our industry even better following the recession,” says Mr Mohammed Al Muellam, senior vice president and managing director or DP World, Mohammed Al Muellam of DP World, one of three industry experts to join Seatrade chairman, Chris Hayman, at a discussion regarding the expanding Middle East fleet last Wednesday in Dubai.

Martin Machin, director of Tufton Oceanic and Roy Donaldson, COO of Topaz Marine & general manager of BUE Caspian also agreed that the maritime industry is experiencing an impressive bounce back following a tough 18 months. Supported by recent research conducted on behalf of SMEM, the current Middle East fleet has a dead weight tonne (DWT) of 57.2 million with order books accounting for a massive 21 million DWT, which indicates that 37 percent of the current fleet is new investment.
With extensive experience in the offshore sector, Donaldson highlighted that one of major benefits from the recent recession has been the amount of new technology that has moved into the region and has noticed a “significant investment primarily in the subsea market.” The research shows that offshore vessels account for 16 percent of the Middle East’s total fleet with 331 at present and with 39 on order, the sector’s investment currently sits at 12 percent.

Machin, with a background in financial and asset management, said he is pleased to see that the industry has put clear frameworks in place for resolving issues that may arise due to a change in circumstances, something that may not have been put in place so swiftly had the recession not occurred. He now believes “the ship industry is well equipped to deal with peaks and troughs”.

Hayman concluded: “As one of the most unique events for the maritime and shipping industry, we wanted to provide a forum for a selection of experts to discuss the state of play of the industry. We very much thank our three participants for bringing forward their views and being part of such an informative and eye-opening debate.”

SMEM 2010 will take place at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 26-28 October, bringing together the most influential players from the regional and international maritime and shipping industry. For further information, please visit www.seatrade-middleeast.com.

The Big 5 2010, the region’s leading event for the building and construction industry, will see more innovative product launches than ever before, with the UAE topping the bill. With a 20 percent increase in the number of local exhibitors for this year’s show it is expected that the show will see the launch of some of the most exciting and contemporary products and technologies at this year’s event. Professionals from over 50 countries are expected to attend to what has become the annual event for the international construction industry. It has been a turbulent 18 months for the region’s construction industry, with Dubai taking a well-needed rest from new project start-ups and other emirates such as Abu Dhabi and Ajman leading the UAE market. Despite this, recent research by Ventures on behalf of The Big 5, has shown a promising five years for the industry, with the UAE leading the way and Saudi Arabia a close second.

Some Middle Eastern companies who will be making a mark at this year’s event include:

• First time exhibitor, Supaloc/Prolong will be launching a new patented petro chemical product, called “Synionic technology by Prolong”. This innovative new engine lubricant acts as a substitute for oil giving three times the life compared to standard oil, saving oil filters, extending the life of engines as well as being far more environmentally friendly than anything else currently available on the market. • The Big 5’s environmental partner, EcoVentures, is launching an exciting new patented product which will eliminate the need for sandblasting when fighting rust and will actually use the rust. This certified green product which has previously only been used in the oil & gas industry will be launched to the construction industry this November. • Gulf Brands has the first regional launch of their international best selling product, Super Therm ceramic coating. This product, which has been used by oil and gas giants such as Exxon Mobil and Saudi Aramco, offers a revolutionary way of insulating buildings from the harsh desert heat.

• In-keeping with the 3D epidemic of late, Jehan Green will be exhibiting 3D panel systems specifically for low rise construction projects. This environmentally friendly, carbon saving product are used for external walls, and the newly launched product has already garnered lots of attention locally. Simon Mellor, vice president of construction for dmg :: event, organisers of The Big 5, said: “Recent research has shown that more money is being spent on construction currently, and over the next five years, in the UAE than any other country in the Middle East including Saudi Arabia. The country’s construction industry at a sensible speed and we hope to see this reflected in the attitudes of our visitors and exhibitors.

“Many clients are exhibiting at the show who have been many times before, as well as several new participants from the UAE with a plethora of innovative new products - some of which will revolutionise standard practices in the industry. The Big 5 is a time when the industry will come together, network and put a considerable amount of speculation to rest.” As the largest event of its kind in the Middle East, The Big 5 provides an unrivalled platform for architects, engineers, contractors and developers from the public and private sectors to network, source and specify the latest building and construction products and services. It will also feature an impressive line-up of added value elements including a Key Buyers Programme, Product Seminars, a Conference Programme and the acclaimed Gaia Awards. For further information and to register log on to www.thebig5exhibition.com.

ADIPEC (Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference) this November is set to be the year’s most anticipated energy event, with independent research ranking the major trade show as the place to do business in 2010. ADIPEC, from November 1-4, is one of the world’s leading and largest oil & gas events and brings together over 40,000 regional and international professionals, including 1,600 exhibitors from 59 countries taking part. As a single four-day event it is anticipated to generate more than AED4 billion in industry deals this year. In 2010, exhibitors have been quick to fight for prominent placement, with the event totally selling out eight months in advance.

For the UAE and Abu Dhabi this key event means big business, benefiting the city and the region with an impressive AED600m in flow-on revenue from exhibitors and attendees alone – from hotel bookings to exhibition stands, gift purchases to tours and so on. The exhibition itself is spread across a total 33,000sqm space of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) (plus an extensive new outdoor area for equipment and machinery) ADIPEC is the place where oil & gas heavyweights converge - with making business deals clearly at the top of the list for regional and international players.

The research involved more than 1,300 local and international respondents - a majority holding top C-level roles as key decision makers overseeing average mean budgets of more than US$2m. Hifazat Ahmad, event director of ADIPEC, said: “With the Middle East increasingly viewed as the world’s energy hub, there is tremendous demand to be a part of ADIPEC. Our latest research conclusively shows that ADIPEC is considered a ‘must attend’ event on the global oil and gas industry calendar. Survey respondents attest that it is an essential event to keep abreast of the future direction of the oil and gas industry and a place where pivotal deals are done and key strategies are developed from such an important trade gathering. Ninety-five per cent of respondents stated that they return for each ADIPEC event due to its high value to their companies.”

Heavyweight deals

According to the latest research, heavyweights from the oil & gas industry are “out to do serious business” at this year’s ADIPEC with multi-billion dollar budgets up for the taking. dmg :: events, organisers of ADIPEC 2010, undertook independent research to highlight attendance trends to show that a majority of key decision makers are particularly focussed this year on utilising ADIPEC to meet key business targets to maximize business and industry growth. Respondents highlighted direct interest in production (39%), valves and actuators (36%), drilling (34%) and pipes and fittings (34%). Considering attendance figures, this potentially means a business capture rate of more than 16,000 people directly interested in viewing and purchasing any one of these product groups and services. More specifically, of the high percentage of respondents set on making purchases at the show, ranking highest on their shopping lists is:
- electrical/electronic equipment (83%),
- instruments and controls (82%),
- pipes & fittings (82%),
- valves and actuators (82%) and;
- tools (82%).

On average, respondents were interested in six product/service areas. Overall 68% of the respondents who were likely to attend ADIPEC said they would be looking for suppliers. This includes 28% who said they would be looking for suppliers for a current project, 43% who will be looking for suppliers for a future project.

Networking focus

Both the organisers and attendees also agree that being a part of ADIPEC is the most efficient way to see existing suppliers and evaluate products, and that the event offers the widest selection of new innovations. Seventy five percent of those industry people surveyed said that they would attend to view exhibitor stands, with more than half of those attending hoping to walk the floor to establish meetings with potential clients, suppliers, and industry colleagues.

ADIPEC has built into the programme a number of meeting and network opportunities such as pre-show online networking programme MYADIPEC, which can be accessed through the event’s website (www.adipec.com) and allows exhibitors and visitors to research attendees, set up meetings before and during the event, as well as plan total event schedules.

ADIPEC will also host several evening events, including the DMS Insight! Extravaganza on the first night of the exhibition, the ADIPEC Awards Dinner on the 2 November and the exhibitor party on Wednesday 3 November. Almost all respondents, most of whom have had prosperous outcomes from previous ADIPEC shows, had a very fixed view of whom they wanted to meet at the event.

“The strong message from this level of research was that anyone who is anyone will be a part of ADIPEC and if you want to do deals, it is the most pivotal event to exhibit and attend. Importantly, a majority of the 1300 respondents stated that senior technical people want to meet technical counterparts and that sales staff wish to liaise directly with fellow sales people of the same senior level, so exhibitors who wish to maximise opportunities at the event need to involve their top-level teams to create strong business relations and optimum deals for prosperous business development,” Ahmad said.

Seatrade Middle East Maritime (SMEM) 2010, the region’s leading event for the maritime and shipping industry, has teamed up with leading industry body European Marine Equipment Council (EMEC) to launch a brand new feature at this year’s exhibition, the Technology Forum: Europe in the Middle East.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President & Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, SMEM will celebrate its fifth event, having grown year on year since its inception in 2003.

To honour the strong relationship between Europe and the Middle East the Forum will be hosted by EMEC and its members specifically to discuss European technical expertise. Topics to be covered include ‘Power & Propulsion’, ‘Electronics’, ‘Safety’ and ‘Green Technology’ and will be presented by a range of high-level speakers from the maritime industry. Confirmed speakers to date include Jaakko Eskola, president of EMEC and group vice president of Wartsila Ship Power; Lars Munch Antonsen, general manager, group marketing & CRM of Aalborg Industries; Kjeld Aabo, director of promotion, marine low speed at MAN Diesel SE; Roger Harfouch, Sales Director, Vizada and Philip Padfield, CEO, Eniram.

Chris Hayman, managing director of Seatrade, said: “We wanted to provide a technical forum, aside from the broad commercial conference, for marine engineers to have the opportunity to discuss the latest technologies from the ship building, conversion and repair industry. EMEC is an important industry body and we will be working closely with them to ensure that participants have access to the most up to date engineering news and a close look at European technology and advancements and further strengthen the relationship between these two regions.”

Jaakko Eskola, president of EMEC, said: “This Forum comes at an ideal time as the industry is recovering from a turbulent year and finally has the opportunity to look forward. Collaboration between Europe and the Middle East has always been strong and the EMEC will be presenting a series of seminars by experts from across Europe, who will cover a range of important topics and share in-depth European technical expertise.”

The Technology Forum: Europe in the Middle East will run within the new Technical Seminar Theatre, with free attendance for exhibitors and visitors. The new addition will run alongside the three day paid for SMEM Conference, which will cover high-level industry topics, including ‘Middle East Voice in World Shipping’, ‘Middle East Money and Ships’, ‘Offshore’ and ‘Ports & Terminals’.

SMEM will take place from 26-28 October at Dubai World Trade Centre. SMEM is sponsored by: ABS, BP Marine, DNV, DP World, Drydocks World, Lloyds Register, SAIFEE, Topaz Energy & Marine and Tufton Oceanic. For further information or to register for the event, please visit www.seatrade-middleeast.com.

Countries such as Brazil and UK have already implemented legislation to ensure that a minimum standard of health and safety is applied to every company’s activities and those involved in the oil and gas sector tend to have very high levels of safety already in place.

It is in countries where such legislation does not exist that understanding of the importance of QHSE is low. Aggreko is currently trying to recruit trained QHSE managers native to the country that it is working in to better understand the culture of health and safety management and the ways in which we can work to heighten the standards and ensure application is consistent and correct

What challenges do you face in implementing a QHSE policy?

In the Middle East, and significantly the United Arab Emirates, one of the many challenges facing QHSE teams is the significant mix of nationalities, which can make communicating key QHSE policies even more difficult. Although some countries, including the UK and the UAE, have already implemented legislation to ensure that a minimum standard of health and safety must be followed, this is not true in many regions. Because of the varying standards of QHSE worldwide, companies must ensure that their own QHSE systems are communicated clearly to all employees, a task which involves a thorough educational process.

What systems do you have in place?

Key messages must be conveyed and vital procedures must be followed and understood no matter where in the world they are being implemented. One of our tools is an online portal, QHSE Share Point, is one of the simplest ways in which Aggreko communicates its QHSE policies. The intranet facility is a bank of all the company’s ISO and OHSAS certifications as well as Aggreko policies that must be adhered to. A translation strategy is now being put into place so that all materials are available in English, Chinese, French, Spanish and Portuguese, with further languages being added as needed.

We have a formal induction process is an essential part of this, helping any new employees to understand the procedures and also the reasons why they are so important from the very beginning of their career with the company. Following this induction, workers are provided with a gradual introduction to hazardous situations, which helps them to ensure that precautions and QHSE actions become a regular part of the working day.

Another one of our successful initiative that has been put into place is to have all necessary hazard warning signs on site in the dialect of that location, whether Hindi, Arabic or Mandarin, to ensure that workers are aware of the most important health and safety procedures that they must abide by. Further to this, Aggreko is using more pictorially based signs to convey warning signs on site, and has launched ‘Safety For Life’, which is a collection of eight cartoon based posters which explain hazardous situations through imagery to help get the message across quickly and effectively.

How do you ensure your initiatives are implemented and upheld?

We take our QHSE policies very seriously and make this very transparent to all our employees and clients. We ensure that before any project goes ahead the system is already an integral part of all planning and procedures. We conduct a risk assessment of all activities at two points before any work begins, with a Pre Tender QHSE Review and then a Post Contract QHSE Review, which takes place before mobilisation. A Compliance Review is then conducted following the commissioning of the project and then again every six months for its duration. These reviews are carried out by a professional QHSE auditor with further monitoring performed by a member of Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA), also at six-month intervals.

Such reviews are then presented to the company’s senior management who act on any discrepancies. In fact, QHSE is regarded so highly by our management team that the managing director has a note of the most dangerous hazards on any project site, so when visiting these sites he can ensure that all measures are correctly in place to reduce the possibility of any accidents occurring.

Research released today by The Office Exhibition has revealed some fascinating facts about office life, including that each person spends an average of 46 days out of their working year alone on non-work related activity. The survey shows that despite putting in long hours, UAE office workers still manage to grab some personal time during the working day, whether on social networking websites, surfing the net, gossiping with colleagues, or making tea.

The Office Exhibition surveyed over 1,000 office workers across the UAE, with the following results:

• Time for tea: a staggering 150 million cups of tea are made by office workers in the UAE every year, with each person spending almost four and a half working days making them
• Good to gossip: office workers in the region believe that it is good to chat to colleagues – so much so, that on average they spend nearly seven working days a year doing it
• Socialising online: some 62 percent of companies have an IT policy relating to social media and personal Internet usage which is adhered to, but 33 percent either have a policy that is ignored, or do not have a policy at all. In line with this, 44 percent of respondents said that they did not use social networking at work (Facebook, Twitter etc), although UAE office workers still manage to spend almost 11 days each a year doing this, in addition to eight days per year instant messenging with friends (MSN, Facebook chat etc).
• From banks to breaks: online banking and paying bills is a popular in-work-time activity, with each office worker spending 11 days a year doing it; in addition to six days a year spent online at work researching and booking holidays
• Email mountain: email is by far the preferred method of communication at work, with 60% of respondents preferring this over phone or face to face contact. Office workers send and receive a total of a staggering 3.5 billion emails every year, which averages out to 47 emails each working day

Speaking about the research, Sinead Bridgett, Show Director, The Office Exhibition said, “It’s well known that people in the UAE spend long hours in the office, but our survey has uncovered some fascinating facts about what actually happens during the working day. Whilst email now dominates official communications, people still want to spend time chatting with colleagues about non-work related issues.

“The majority of companies have IT policies in place regarding social networking and internet use, but almost a third do not, and this is something we would encourage them to look at as a significant number of days a year are spent on these activities at work.”

Now in its 9th year, The Office Exhibition is a leading showcase for the high-end products, technology and services that combine to create outstanding working environments. Set to take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 9-11 February 2010, the show will feature over 250 companies, covering an area of approximately 15,000 m2.

Well renowned for its classic North Indian cuisine served in a modern elegant setting, Ushna has put together a special Valentine’s four course Kama (pleasure of the senses) set menu for only AED 495 per couple, or AED 695 including a bottle of Lanson Black Label Champagne. Couples can sample the delicious treats that Ushna has to offer, whilst enjoying the scenic views of the Marina and Grand Mosque from Ushna’s stunning terrace. In addition, one lucky couple will receive an exclusive invitation to dine with Ushna’s Chef and Sommelier, for some top tips on perfectly matching food and drink together.

Coinciding with the Valentine’s theme, the dress code for the evening is trendy and red.

The mouthwatering menu consists of Saffron spiced roasted asparagus with almond and paneer patties; Jasmine scented tandoori fish tikka with korma sauce; and strawberry pudding, crispy chocolate cannelloni and wild rose ice cream.

For couples looking for something really special this Valentine’s – from Thai cuisine at its best to the romantic setting of the fountains and the Burj Khalifa - Mango Tree has it all.

With a specially selected mouth-watering menu and a bottle of Moet for only AED 600 per couple, Valentine’s at Mango Tree is guaranteed to put the spice into any romantic evening. Even better, couples will be offered the opportunity to have their photo taken by a professional photographer against the stunning backdrop of the Burj Khalifa, and will be sent a copy by email so that they can capture the memory forever.

A survey carried out on behalf of The Office Exhibition has shown that 33% of employees in the UAE either stay at their desk all day or only leave their desk for a lunch break. This puts a third of office workers at risk of serious health problems, such as obesity and deep vein thrombosis, or stress and back problems. These problems can easily be resolved with the incorporation of Deskercise into a regular working day.

To start the New Year on a healthier note, The Office Exhibition has devised a Deskercise routine, which helps fight stress and tension and encourages flexibility and mental stimulation, allowing people to take time out of a busy working day to focus on wellbeing. The routine, which is simple and effective, can be carried out in the office, as it can be performed at the desk at any point throughout the day.

Deskercise focuses on regions of the body where tension is most likely to build up throughout the day, such as the neck, shoulders and back as well as providing toning workouts for arms, legs and stomach. The routine includes sets of fool-proof exercises which colleagues will not notice you doing:

• Neck Push - this can be done sitting or standing and helps to strengthen the neck muscles:

- Keep your head up-right
- Press one palm against your forehead and press head into your palm, which resists the push
- Hold for 10 to 15 seconds then release
- Clasp your hands behind your head
- Press head backwards, resisting the pressure with your hands
- Hold for 10 to 15 seconds then release
- Hold your right hand against the side of your head
- Press your head into your palm, resisting the pressure with your hand
- Hold for 10 to 15 second then release and repeat on the left side

• Heavy Hinged Shoulders - this exercise is done standing and will stretch the shoulders and release tension:

- Push both hands straight in front of you with your palms facing down
- Hold for five seconds
- Bend the arms in at the elbows with the fingers pointing straight ahead
- Hold for five seconds
- Repeat five to 10 times

• Tummy Toners - everyone wants a toned tummy, but sitting at a desk all day does not make for a slender stomach. Deskercise offers a way to tone whilst you type:

- Sitting up-right in your chair, hold onto the arms or underneath of the seat
- Keep your feet together and knees bent
- Lift your knees to your chest whilst tightening your abdominal muscles
- Hold for five seconds
- Relax and repeat five to 10 times

• Shapely Arms - give your wrists a break from typing and get your arms working with a simple exercise which can be done at any time of day.

- Put your left hand on top of your right in front of you, palms together. Lift upward with your right arm while using your left arm to create resistance,
- Feel the pressure in your right arm and hold this for five seconds
- Switch arms and repeat. Do twice on each side

• Perfect Posture - posture can be seriously disturbed by sitting at a desk all day, which can lead to pain in your back, shoulders and neck:

- Whilst sitting, bend your elbows at a 90-degree angle, forearms parallel to the floor
- Squeeze your shoulder blades down and together
- At the same time gently press your elbows back
- Hold for five seconds then release and repeat

• Thunder Thighs – don’t neglect your legs, work your thighs with a simple exercise that no one else need see:

- Sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor
- Bring one leg straight out in front of you
- With your back straight and chin lifted, hold your leg up for five to 10 seconds
- Lower leg then repeat with the opposite one
- Repeat twice with each leg


Speaking about the survey, Sinead Bridgett, Show Director, The Office Exhibition said, “People are now pretty aware of the importance of preventing DVT by exercising on longhaul flights, but few realise the potential health-hazards of a desk-bound job. Many people are now suffering serious health problems as a result of long working hours and the inability to take regular breaks from their desks.

“In order to optimise the brain, it is recommended that people should take regular breaks, have their lunch break away from their desk and exercise a few times a week after work. The Office Exhibition’s Deskercise routine is designed to go some way to ensure that office workers can exercise at any time of the day, providing some kind of release from everyday anxieties.”

Now in its 9th year, The Office Exhibition is a leading showcase for the high-end products, technology and services that combine to create outstanding working environments. Set to take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 9-11 February 2010, the show will feature over 350 companies, covering an area of approximately 15,000 m2.

Guests can place offers for a range of luxury items and monitor their progress at the Charity area on the night of the Ball. All money raised from the auction and donations made will be given to FOCP, which aims to provide moral, financial and practical support to cancer sufferers and their families.

Founded under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed AI Qasimi, President of the Family Supreme Council, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah & Federal Supreme Council Member H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi, FOCP became the official charity of the Oil Barons Ball last year. Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade, part of the organizing committee for the charity, will present a message to the audience on the night.

To date, the list of items for auction includes a signed Fernando Torres shirt mounted in a silver frame, some beautiful pearl bracelets, a stunning Pictanda pendant made from white oval Australian Pearls and set in 18kt white gold with a total of 0.27carat of diamonds, a round of golf at Emirates Golf Club, a set of golf clubs from Nike as used by Tiger Woods which includes Limited Edition TW Forged Blade Irons 3-PW - Extra Stiff Steel Shaft, Ignite Driver 7.5 deg 410cc Extra Stiff Graphite Shaft - Titanium Head Wide C.O.R., Nike Pro combo Golf Carry Bag and The Original Daphnes Tiger Head Cover, a golf lesson from PGA amateur and celebrity golf tutor Claude Harmon a juke box from Juke Box Gallery, a consultation and restyle from leading salon Hairworks and a pampering session from SensAsia Spa.

Corporate prizes also include a media training session from Eithne Treanor and a communications audit from Fifth Ring Communications worth AED 15,000.

The event, which is the largest sit down gala dinner for the energy industry throughout the Middle East, UK and Europe, will pay tribute to the Oil Baron 2009, the person nominated by his or her peers who has made a significant contribution to the industry over the past 12 months.

As well as the crowning of this year’s Oil Baron and the return of the previous six, a delicious dinner, the evening’s entertainment will pay homage to 50 years of Tamla Motown, with performances from the tribute band Four Tops and the Dream Girls, flown in specially for the event from London’s West End. They will be performing a variety of well-known Motown, sure to get the 2500 guests dancing in the aisles.

Eileen Michael, founder of the Oil Barons Ball and managing director of Reflex Publishing, said: “We have had some fantastic prizes donated for the auction and we have been overwhelmed by people’s generosity. Friends of Cancer Patients has a special place in all our hearts here at the Oil Barons Ball and we hope to raise as much money as possible to help support the incredible work its team do here in the region. There are some great items up for grabs and we hope everyone will dig deep for such a worthwhile cause.”

HE Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi from FOCP, said: “We are delighted to be the Oil Barons Ball’s official charity again for 2009. The generous guests at the event have already supported us immensely, allowing us to help many sufferers and their families over the past year. I have no doubt that the auction will be a success and the event an enjoyable evening for all.”

Those who would like to donate an item for the charity auction or make a financial contribution should contact the Oil Barons Ball on +971 4391 0830. Those who would like further information about the event or would like to purchase tickets should contact sales@reflexpublishingme.com.

The Disegno project was formed by a joint venture of three Dubai-based companies, RS Arabia, Duram and Kart Furniture, with the specific intention of showcasing a number of specially selected high-end interior design companies in the Middle East. Having officially launched at INDEX, the intention is that Disegno will promote different brands at different trade events in the future – and plans also include a two day workshop in Dubai in the new year which will bring four very high profile international designers into the region.

The Disegno stand at INDEX will be totally unique, featuring innovative new materials and design. Coordinated by RS Arabia, the stand will be designed by Kart Design, with fit-out and project management undertaken by Duram. Lighting will be provided by Huda Lighting, and the overall structural engineering by Sinergo. The companies exhibiting at INDEX 2009 under the Disegno brand are:

• Paola Lenti - specializing in unique rugs and seating. Globally renowned for textile innovation in design, the 2009 collection “Essential Nature” uses a series of materials including iron, stone and wood, which are combined with high tech materials that perform well in difficult environments
• Flou - representing “the culture of sleep”. Flou’s innovative designer beds have marked its position as a global market leader. Established by Rosario Messina in 1978, the company prides itself on the quality, design, elegance and performance of its pioneering products
• Kartell – set apart as a “hallmark of design”, Kartell has collaborations with many world famous designers, including Philippe Starck. Featuring a series of unique, stand out products, Kartell continues to experiment with new materials and technology, and has been able to introduce satin finishing, transparency effects, flexibility, weather resistance, softness and texture
• Serralunga - founded in Italy in 1825, Serralunga has come a long way since its days as a tannery. Known for beautiful oversized garden pots and furniture, Serralunga has transformed the simple flower vase into a sculpture, a lamp, a landmark, and a meeting point between the plant kingdom, furniture and technology. The company has worked with twenty or so international designers in recent years, including Zaha Hadid
• Zanotta – established in 1954, Zanotta is one of the recognized leaders in Italian industrial design. Guided by the insight and wonderful entrepreneurship abilities of the founder, Aurelio Zanotta, the company has won international recognition thanks to its products, emblematic for both their formal and technological innovations. Today’s collection includes inspirational armchairs, sofas, storage units, bookcases, chairs, tables, coffee tables and furnishing accessories, designed and created with the advanced use of a host of materials including metals, plastics, glass, marble, granite, wood, fabrics and leather.
• Vitra - manufacturing furniture designs by Charles & Ray Eames and George Nelson since 1957. Vitra has built on this foundation and has developed a wide range of furnishings for the office, for the home and for public spaces in collaboration with progressive designers.
• Haute Material – creating unique pieces, made out of precious old wood, worked with respect, wisdom and craftsmen methodology. The material is first selected and respecting the history it contains, ‘reinvented’ through an original contamination with contemporary materials (steel and glass). The end result is always an object of indisputable personality, which never goes unnoticed and which gives a unique and sophisticated touch to any interior where it’s placed. The successful mix of antique and modern, past and future, severity and a sense of disorder, makes each piece of the collections an item of passionate modernity.

In addition, Createlab, who specialise in research, development and design of decorative water-based paints and finishes for interior walls and glass surfaces, will be hosting a live art show on the Disegno stand. The company will be showcasing an art installation by artist Luca Pozzi that forms part of his new series of A.E.W.O.M (Aleph Experiment WithOut Mass). This series uses an innovative photoluminescent interiors paint, developed by Createlab, which in combination with specific lighting tools ie pen, spray can and light roller, allows temporary light painting and graffiti. Createlab will also be conducting temporary graffiti art demonstrations using this Createlab Photonica paint technology at the stand.

INDEX will be organizing a VIP Gala dinner at RS Arabia’s Design House, Palm Jumeirah, on the first evening of the show for the most influential and talented individuals in the interiors industry.

Now in its 19th year, INDEX, organized by dmg world media, has already established itself as a leading player in the global interior design show calendar. Set to take place from 14-17 November at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the focus for INDEX 2009 is on high quality brands with doing business at the core of the event. Disegno supports INDEX’s bigger plan to focus on design and will provide visitors with a unique collection of stunning products.

Lu Buchanan, INDEX Event Director said, “We are delighted that the launch of Disegno will be at INDEX. We are showcasing the best of the best to our visitors and Disegno offers a taste of some of the top International design brands, brought together in what will be a unique and visually stunning stand. It is yet another reason why anyone involved in the interiors industry cannot afford to miss INDEX this year.”

Antonio Cartanese, Managing Director of Duram, speaking on behalf of Disegno added, “RS Arabia, Duram and Kart Furniture have worked together to develop the fabulous concept called Disegno, which will bring together a collection of the best interiors brands around today. We have carefully chosen the exhibiting companies and each will offer something different. We already know that a number of other top brands want to be involved, and our intention is that we will develop the Disegno brand and roll it out in the future, bringing together different companies for every event.”

The Big 5, the leading international building and construction show, is set to take place from 23-26 November 2009 at Dubai World Trade Centre. Registration is already looking positive, with visitors from over 70 countries signed up to attend. The show will be 15 percent bigger than 2008 in terms of exhibition space, and has grown to include the new halls being constructed at the venue. The show is almost fully sold out, with 92 percent of the 43,000 m2 floor space booked. Exhibitors include Emirates Steel Industries, RAK Ceramics and Exeed Industries from the UAE, French Euroslot, Climatech and Dectron from Canada, Turkish based Tekmar marble, Tongby Control Technology from China, Germany’s Putzmeister Mörtelmaschinen and the Lapesa Grupo from Zaragoza, Spain.

Paula Al Chami, show Director for The Big 5, said, “The Big 5 exhibition is somewhat of a barometer for the construction industry and we are extremely positive that business is starting to stabilise. We seem to be bucking the trend of some other trade shows, which has been reflected in the increased floor space, and the right level of industry people signing up.”

Clearly, this has been a year of a slow down in growth in construction, but it seems that The Big 5 is coming at just the right time, as the industry is starting to look forwards again and will be able to put a considerable amount of speculation to rest.”

dmg research has shown that, despite the economic downturn, the Middle East construction industry will keep growing at an annual rate of 3.5 percent in the next five years, ranking third behind Asia and significantly ahead of Europe or Northern America. The region is a perfect gateway for the Indian sub-continent and Asia and is, therefore, in a strong position to provide access to the two regions with the highest expected construction growth in the next two years.

Contrary to the widespread belief that all construction has stopped, there are still significant projects in the pipeline, which have a total value across the Middle East region of US$3.1 trillion. The UAE leads the project market, accounting for 42 percent of the total project value, while the value of projects in Bahrain has more than doubled to almost US$68 billion and those in Qatar have increased by 71 percent in the last year.

Despite a tough year, research carried out by independent consultants BNC, shows that almost 70 percent of the total registered projects in the GCC are still currently under construction with a further 6 percent out to tender and 10 percent already in the concept and design stages. In the UAE, 7,231 projects – commercial, residential, hospitality, medical and educational – are currently still under construction and over 1,000 projects are in the pipeline for this year alone.

As the largest event of its kind in the Middle East, The Big 5 provides an unrivalled platform for architects, engineers, contractors and developers from the public and private sectors to network, source and specify the latest building and construction products and services. Featuring National Pavilions from all major exporting countries of the world, The Big 5 provides the most comprehensive product offering for the building and construction industry.

The Big 5 will also be bringing together an impressive line-up of added value elements including a Key Buyers Programme, Product Seminars, a Conference Programme and the acclaimed Gaia Awards.