Demand for carpet and floor covering products and services in the region is expected to widen as regional suppliers capitalize on over $48 billion in construction projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Domotex Middle East 2009, the only dedicated carpets and floor coverings exhibition in the MENA region, said on Saturday. Domotex Middle East revealed that the Kingdom's multi-billion construction expenditure is part of nearly $600 billion in various projects being planned and undertaken all over the country. Some of the key construction projects are four new cities being established in strategic areas around the country that will accommodate up to 5 million people by 2020, while various housing developments have also been undertaken including a residential complex in Jeddah worth more than $13 billion. Angela Schaschen, managing director, Deutsche Messe Dubai branch, said: “Saudi Arabia continues to invest significantly in construction and real estate development projects all over the country as it aims to establish new cities and facilities to accommodate and better serve its growing population. The massive development projects will naturally include numerous office and hotel developments, which are among the top markets for carpets and floor covering products and designs. To capitalize on the Kingdom's excellent business prospects, Domotex Middle East will offer the best and widest range of product offerings that cater to the specific requirements of real estate developers and investors, building owners, hotel developers and several other prospective buyers from the Kingdom.” Domotex Middle East 2009 will be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre on May 17-19, providing a fitting platform for buyers and suppliers to transact and identify new business opportunities. This year's edition of Domotex Middle East will feature two special segments - Creative Flooring and Designers Corner - that will showcase materials, products, techniques and trends in carpet and flooring designs for the hospitality and office sectors. Creative Flooring will gather professionals from the UK who will demonstrate the latest hotel and office floor laying skills, while the Designers Corner will exhibit the latest designs in flooring to interior designers and architects. Domotex Middle East has likewise established a key partnership with the Association for Professional Interior Designers (APID) to collaborate in key areas of the exhibition, including the inaugural Flooring Seminar, which will facilitate discussions with APID members about the role of flooring in interior design. Domotex Middle East 2009 will showcase a complete line of handmade and machine-made carpets; textile and resilient floor coverings; parquet and wooden flooring; laminates; sports arena flooring; fibers, yarns and textiles; cleaning and application technologies; ceramic tiles; and natural stone and marble floorings. The exhibition and trade fair attracts key industry players such as 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. __
