This huge level of investment aims to open up massive new income streams to these previously oil-dependent states, with tourism and leisure on the grandest of scales being the big earner of the future. All good news for suppliers and installers of entertainment, presentation and communication systems.
Against this background, IIR Exhibitions has put the Pro Audio & Light Middle East - PALME - exhibition firmly on the international trade show calendar after just two events. This year's show, which took place in February, attracted over 5,200 trade visitors and demonstrated high levels of both visitor and exhibitor satisfaction. IIR's research showed that 52% of visitors expected to do business with a new supplier while at the show . . .
Le Mark returned to PALME with the aim of appointing stock-holding distributors of its products in the region. Stuart Gibbons said: "PALME gave us the opportunity to meet two quality companies with strong individual positions with the UAE." The company appointed Access All Areas as a stockist of its consumable tape range, and also agreed a stocking distributorship with IBS Decor, builders of stage and conference sets.
Swiss company VXCO Lighting Systems was on the stand of its Singapore-based distributor Showtec Communications, where it showed its DMXCreator computer lighting controller. The system attracted plenty of attention, said VXCO, and has already been specified in projects in Dubai.
As well as showing its latest architectural lighting innovation, the Exterior Inground series, Martin Professional Middle East announced its partnership with Advanced Fiber Optics, a leading producer of intelligent fibre optic lighting, and also had a major presence from truss manufacturer Eurotruss on its stand.
Hall Stage reported a number of promising enquiries from the show, including an initial contact for a quite large number of motors for Iraq - time will tell how that one turns out. Hall's Charles Haines said PALME had been: "A very good first experience in Dubai and a chance to meet up with some interesting people from the Middle East and Gulf in general." He added: "We shall definitely be returning in 2006 - if not before."
Rob Fricker of Adam Hall was another satisfied exhibitor. He told us: "This was the first time we exhibited at PALME and first impressions were very good. The show was well organized and well attended by visitors from all over the Middle East. We had lots of good enquiries and some solid orders. This is a fairly new territory for us, so we will see how things develop over the next year, but at this moment I am sure we will re-exhibit in 2005."
Other companies reporting a successful show included A.C. Lighting, whose Glyn O'Donoghue said: "I was very encouraged by the professionalism and friendly attitude of the local visitors. We were able to spend quality time with new contacts."
Paul Hartley from TMB felt that, once again, it had been a well-organized and well-run show. David Srba from Robe was also full of praise and Paul Topliss said it had been a particularly successful show for Lee Filters, with the appointment of a distributor for the UAE region.
