THE worlds of construction and interiors come together in Manama next month when the fifth annual gulfBID and inaugural gulfInteriors exhibitions open together at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre (BIEC).

Organiser Hilal Conferences & Exhibitions (HCE) say this regional showpiece is shaping up to be the most cosmopolitan of its kind yet, thanks to the lasting allure of the buoyant Northern Gulf economies – defined as Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia – as well as the unique synergies gained by holding two distinct yet complementary exhibitions alongside one another under the same roof.
“The geographical diversity of this year’s exhibitors reflects not only the outstanding appeal of the Northern Gulf for international construction and interiors companies but also Bahrain’s close proximity to these markets. Furthermore, the first gulfInteriors show introduces an exciting new dimension for visitors and exhibitors,” explains Jubran Abdulrahman, HCE managing director.
To be held from May 4 to 6, gulfBID promises to introduce to the Northern Gulf the latest construction products and services across eight core categories of building and construction, water technology and environment, air-conditioning and refrigeration, cleaning and maintenance, glass and metal, bathrooms and ceramics, marble and machinery, and construction plant, machinery and vehicles.

gulfInteriors, meanwhile, will feature products and services covering contract and residential furniture, interior design services and contracting, textiles and upholstery fabrics, beds and bedding, flooring and wall-coverings, lighting, kitchens and bathrooms, art and accessories, ceramics, marble and granite, outdoor living, retail services, hospitality and office fit-out.
The macroeconomic background to the show is impressive. According to a recent report by Dubai-based market research specialist Proleads, more than $500 billion-worth of construction and infrastructure projects are currently in progress in the Gulf, and these are driven by the prospect of high oil prices for the foreseeable future. Saudi Arabia remains by far the largest construction market, though Qatar’s market share is growing as surging gas revenues and comparatively few liquidity problems fuel construction projects currently valued at approximately $53 billion, 95 per cent of which are active.
Abdulrahman says the Northern Gulf’s construction sectors are being re-energised by the global economic recovery, and this is injecting a heightened sense of expectation and anticipation for gulfBID 2010.
“For many companies, gulfBID 2010 will be their first point of entry into the region as they look to explore the market and introduce themselves to potential clients and suppliers. For others more familiar with the regional business environment, gulfBID 2010 is an opportunity to launch new products, reinforce awareness of their capabilities and bond with the more than 3,500 visitors we expect to welcome,” he explains.

A geographically diverse gathering is guaranteed with companies from Bahrain, Canada, China, Cyprus, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UK having so far confirmed their participation at gulfBID. By the time the curtain rises on May 4, a total of more than 200 companies are expected to fill the exhibition halls, says HCE.
National pavilions promise to enhance the international vibe at the BIEC. For example, the Cyprus Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism will support seven firms on its 288-sq-m pavilion, showcasing their manufacturing capabilities and products including photovoltaic and small wind power systems, power generating sets, press machines, and interior and exterior hotel furniture.
One such firm is Morfomichaniki – a previous winner of the Cyprus Innovation Award for manufacturing – which will promote its air press machine and cutting tools for aluminium profiles on Stand 1B31, while renewable energy specialist Savco Solar Energy is hoping its design and installation services for photovoltaic systems and small wind power systems for the residential, commercial and industrial markets will attract interest at Stand 1B29. Mitas Generators, meanwhile, will highlight at Stand 1C38 its role as the sole dedicated manufacturer of power generators in Cyprus to explore and penetrate new markets in the Middle East.
This is the fourth consecutive year of participation for the Cyprus Trade Centre, which views gulfBID as the ideal platform from which to promote high-quality Cypriot exports and establish new contacts with buyers across the Middle East.
HCE exhibitions director Kim Willis says gulfBID brings suppliers, brands, equipment and services face-to-face with clients and buyers in a way that no other construction-related show in the Northern Gulf can, given the show’s proximity to some of the largest construction projects in the world.
“gulfBID offers a year’s worth of marketing, brand building, networking and deal making in just three days, in one of the world’s construction hotspots. This year, HCE has extended its visitor promotion campaign, which is more highly targeted to product buyers, specifiers and entrepreneurs than any previous gulfBID show. And while exhibitors can be confident of visitor quality, visitors also experience at first hand the latest market trends and can exchange local market intelligence with local and regional players,” she explains.
New as well as renowned products will feature at gulfBID. The exhibitor profile includes veterans in the industry such as Gulf Plastic Industries (see page 149), Al Ma’awdah Establishment (see page 144), Qatar Steel (see page 159), and Alyusuf Group (see page 147), alongside new entrants into the market including Unirol (see page 154), and Surelevel Saudia (see page 163).
Canada’s Boa Franc will show at Stand 1E70 new additions to its Mirage brand of hardwood floors, which have been voted number one for quality by retailers across North America 11 times in the past seven years. Bahrain’s Behbehani Brothers, meanwhile, will present at Stand 1D38 products from its international principals including the Leica Geosystems range of surveying and mapping tools, power and communication cables from RPG Cables as well as high altitude working construction machinery, scaffolds and rollable aluminium towers.
Global formwork technology specialist Doka will display its wall systems, slab systems, climbing systems, load-bearing structures, value-adding reconditioning services and preassembled ready-to-use formwork on Stand 1A58.
Saudi Arabia’s Fazah Industrial, which plans to expand uPVC extrusion capacity at its factory in Riyadh’s Second Industrial City, will highlight on Stand 1B49 its economical, durable and ecologically-friendly uPVC window and door profiles which offer heat insulation, high impact, dust and fire resistance, noise reduction, acid protection, electricity insulation and minimum air infiltration and compared to aluminium or wood products.
Germany’s Hans Klein Werkzeugmaschinen-Handel will present on Stand 1A61 its range of metal-cutting and metal-forming equipment, sheet metal working machines, boring and drilling machines, automatic and standard lathes, milling and planing machines, presses, grinding machines, saws, gear cutting machines and various other machines, CNC and conventional.
The UAE’s Saeed Mohammed Al Ghandi & Sons (SMAG) will promote its best-in-class climate control units on Stand 1A12, while lighting technology specialist Future Technology – headquartered in Bahrain and with a 7,500 sq m manufacturing plant in China – will present its range of high-quality, high-specification lighting solutions at Stand 1A20.
Saudi-based Rezayat Protective Coating Company (Rezayat Procoat) will, meanwhile, turn the spotlight on the fabrication capabilities of its 100,000-tonnes-per-year-capacity fusion-bonded epoxy-coated rebar (FBECR) plant in Dammam Second Industrial City and the inherent corrosion-protection benefits of using coated epoxy powder film, at Stand 1A54.
gulfBID and gulfInteriors are held under the patronage of Bahrain’s Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.
To add further value and interest to the shows, the Green Building Forum will be held at the BIEC on May 5, drawing high-profile speakers who, among a variety of topics, will seek to explore the opportunities, benefits and challenges of incorporating ‘green’ elements into construction projects in the Gulf, as well as addressing other construction-relevant environment and sustainability issues. The Green Building Forum will be held under the patronage of Bahrain’s Minister of Housing Shaikh Ibrahim bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, and the speakers’ panel will comprise experts including government ministers and award-winning architects.
Shaikh Ibrahim will deliver a keynote opening speech to forum delegates, in which he is expected to highlight the concept of environmental sustainability as a crucial element of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, the objectives of which are to transform the kingdom from a regional pioneer to a global contender.
In addition, a distinguished line-up of renowned speakers from the world of government, business and environment will discuss topics including: the Copenhagen Treaty and its relevance to the Gulf; government regulations and green codes; green building in the Gulf; environmentally-sympathetic design and construction; challenges for the construction industry and sustainable building materials; smart buildings; renewable energy powering the home; carbon trading or zero emissions; innovation in building; recycling waste; and green building training and education.
The Green Building Forum is organised by HCE in association with leading international event consultancy North Star Associates.
North Star Associates managing director Ahmed Suleiman, says: “The forum provides a platform to reconsider conventional thinking and demonstrate that green building methods do not necessarily compromise quality or translate into higher construction costs.”
The forum is supported by the Bahrain Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Emirates Green Building Council, the Federation of GCC Chambers of Commerce, British Council, British Expertise and The Middle East Association.