The Bahrain International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) will host two major construction-related exhibitions this November.

Organised by the Bahrain Convention & Exhibition Bureau (BCEB) along with Bahrain Society of Engineers (BSE), the exhibitions, to be held concurrently, will include the Intelligent Building Middle East (IBME) from November 20 to 22 and the Bahrain International Property Exhibition (Bipex), from November 21 to 24.
Both the exhibitions had received a strong response last year.
Following the successful completion of the first IBME last year, the organisers of the show have already confirmed a large portion of this year’s exhibition space to many returning exhibitors, says Anurag Andrade of BCEB.
IBME being jointly organised by Germany’s Nurnberg Global Fairs, the Bahrain Convention & Exhibition Bureau (BCEB) and the Bahrain Society of Engineers.
Last December, the new trade-show concept was successfully launched with more than 2,800 trade show visitors and conference delegates attending the event with 117 exhibitors from 14 different countries, including more than 50 German companies who presented their products within a 2,500 sq m display area.
“One of the main attractions of the exhibition was the Bavarian pavilion, representing the State of Bavaria – set up by the Bavarian state government to promote global trade and cross-border investment. The Bavarian pavilion and the Bavarian exhibiting companies were organised and advised by Bayern International who will also be present at this years edition,” says Andrade.
Intelligent buildings involve the design of sustainable and energy-efficient buildings. Countries from the region such as the UAE, Bahrain, Dubai and Qatar are currently investing in impressive large-scale building projects. Efficient building concepts and integrated solutions are required from the flourishing building industry.
The aim of the exhibition and conference is to present building solutions, technologies and components to maximise comfort for building operators and users and minimise the consumption of fossil energies, especially under hot climatic conditions. The event is targeted at all experts involved in the planning and construction process such as consultants, architects, planners, construction companies, to public and private property owners and facility managers.
IBME is distinctly designed for the flourishing construction market of the Middle East and it clearly stands out from the horizontally oriented exhibitions in region, which primarily focuses on a variety of building material and related goods. Bearing in mind the extreme climatic conditions of the region, the organisers have taken a vertical approach towards the innumerable building and large-scale projects in the region in an effort to establish IBME as one of the leading annual events in the region.

Property show
This property exhibition aims at enticing investments from domestic as well as regional and international investors to explore the vast opportunities and wide range of housing and commercial options in the Middle East and from all around the world, says Andrade. “The organisers’ efforts in bringing investors and real estate developers under one roof is expected to generate favourable business for Bahrain.”
“The Middle East, and the Gulf region in particular, are rapidly emerging markets, which makes building and property shows a necessity rather than a convenience. With a large number of dynamic projects mushrooming at every possible available plot, the property industry is booming.
“Bahrain’s geographical location between Europe and Asia combined with its access to vast emerging markets in Central and Western Asia and Africa gives the kingdom an upper hand as a convenient technology warehouse and supply centre for the region. Bahrain also boosts a very efficient business infrastructure backed with a favourable business strategy, which allows 100 per cent ownership of companies and industrial land.
Bipex 2005 was held in September last year, under the patronage of Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Court. The exhibition attracted around 48 participants from Bahrain, UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Italy, India and Malaysia and a continuous flow of visitors from Bahrain and all GCC countries.
To make the next show complete and effective the organisers will create The Developers’ Showcase which will consist of a special presentation of tomorrow’s lifestyle with totally integrated projects that are designed for a new way of life where commercial and luxury residential properties are combined with educational, recreational and medical facilities. Special seminars will be scheduled which will discuss property financing, risk assessment for overseas real estate investments, property valuation and long term returns on property investment.