The five-day Saudi Building & Interiors Exhibition & Symposium ended last month after a successful run, with most of the 265 exhibitors reporting of deals worth several million dollars.

With the kingdom’s real estate sector continuing to boom, the turnout of visitors was large. Aside from real estate developers and traders and building contractors, the event attracted a sizeable number of professionals, especially architects, designers and engineers, as well as top officials and executives in the public and private sectors, notably hospitals and schools. Even students interested in pursuing a career in the real estate sector and its related fields were seen visiting the stands.
“The show recorded more than 11,000 registered visitors,” said a spokesman for Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions, which organised the kingdom’s 14th comprehensive showcase for the industry.
A highlight of the exhibition was a symposium that was conducted alongside by the Saudi Council of Engineers. A host of experts and specialists provided free consultancy to prospective builders or owners of properties in addition to giving presentations on various aspects of real estate development, as well as the related building and construction activities.
“We had good interactive sessions with participants and some potential builders and contractors are expected to consult us for their future projects,” Abdullah Al Rashid, a specialist in residential and commercial building projects at the council, said.
Exhibits ranged from building materials, equipment and construction tools to air-conditioning and heating, electrical equipment, environmental technology, landscape and hardscape, safety and security systems, stone, marble and granite tiles, and water technology.
Among local exhibitors,  Al Hossain Wooden House attracted a large number of families for its range of wooden houses displayed in the northern corner of the hall. “Many villa owners and hotel managers said they were interested in having such wooden houses within their compounds,” Sultan Al Hossain, general manager of the Riyadh-based company, said.
Aside from scores of national exhibitors, many more had come from different countries, including Turkey - which had the largest pavilion, Thailand, China, Iran, France, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, UAE, Lebanon and Malaysia.
“Our wooden and steel doors have been a big attraction,” said Sardini of the technical department of Protects, based in Peanta, Greece. “We have already lined up orders for our doors, especially for our steel doors that have an elegant wooden finish,” he said, adding that he has also been negotiating with prospective agents and distributors.
Chinese participants have also reported excellent business. “We received lot of inquiries for our granite and marble,” said Xiaobing Lan, general manager of Xiamen SFS Stone based in Xiamen, China.
Cyprus exhibitors such as M&N Brushco and Peta (Decorating Tools) were also on the verge of signing agency terms with local distributors for their products that include paint brushes and rollers, and decorating tools.
Matos Alain, exporting manger of Krings International France based in Marseilles said he and other French participants found the exhibition fruitful as they could introduce their products and services to this part of the world.
“We came here for the first time but will come back again next year,” said Alain whose company deals in trench shoring systems and modular slide rail systems.
Italy’s Fantozzi G&C SNC showcased some of the best and most expensive chandeliers at the show. “We have already received more than 100 orders for our chandeliers and hope to have an agent here so that we are able to expand our business,” said Giuseppe Fantozzi, a spokesman for the company.
Mohamed Afzal of Sterline Crown, Malaysia – which has returned to the annual exhibition for the third time – had received many inquiries for its vinyl-laminated gypsum ceiling tiles. “We’re already in the process of finalising a local agent for our products and hope to further expand our business,” he said.
Loh Kian Teong, sales manager of Splendour Corporation of Singapore, said he was more than happy with the participation in the exhibition, as orders were pouring in for the company’s uPVC pipes and fittings “that are economical and efficient” for both domestic and industrial applications.
A spokesman for exhibitors from Turkey, which had occupied 1,000 sq m area of the exhibition hall, said they found participating in the Jeddah trade shows both rewarding and fruitful. The country presented a solo exhibition recently and has decided to take part in most of the upcoming local exhibitions.
“The popularity of this annual exhibition is growing year on year, and already most of the exhibitors have shown their interest in participating in next year’s show,” an ACE spokesman said.