Leading German trade fair and conference organiser Epoc Messe Frankfurt attributes its successful 2013 exhibition season to Dubai's continued growth and development. Driven by Dubai's triumph in winning Expo 2020, the exhibition organiser is now looking ahead to further build on its success in 2014 and already has a significant expansion strategy underway.

A total of 88,685 trade visitors attended the group's exhibitions at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre in 2013, which featured the participation of 4,464 exhibitors. When compared to last season's figures of 76,282 total trade visitors and 3,721 exhibitors, the group's exhibitions in 2013 attracted 12% more trade visitors and 16% more exhibitors.

“Our growth in recent years has absolutely been driven by Dubai's successes. We are guided by the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and now with the announcement of Dubai Expo 2020, we are confident that we can continue to enjoy success, bolstered by the strength of Dubai's vision. Furthermore, as economies of the region continue to post healthy growth rates, there is a continuously growing interest in regional markets by international manufacturers and suppliers looking to expand their presence here,” said Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Epoc Messe Frankfurt.

“The well-founded reputation of Epoc Messe Frankfurt-organised trade events as being highly results-oriented, tightly-focused and enjoying wide regional creditability, have made them a preferred marketing and promotional choice for international companies interested in doing business regionally,” Pauwels added.

The region-wide footprint of the group's exhibitions is underlined by the fact that approximately 40,795 of 2013's trade visitors, or 42%, came from outside the UAE. This large influx of international trade visitors also makes a considerable impact on the local economy with their corresponding spends on hotels, restaurants and retail establishments.

With their portfolio of exhibitions – Automechanika Dubai, Beautyworld Middle East, Hardware+Tools Middle East, Intersec, Light Middle East, Materials Handling Middle East, Paperworld Middle East and Playworld Middle East – representing key industries that attract international interest into the wider region, the group is one of the leading international trade event organisers based in the Middle East.

Best performers

Intersec Dubai 2013, was the largest ever in its 15th edition. The premier business and networking event for security, safety and fire protection in the Middle East featured 990 exhibitors from 54 countries. Intersec 2013 was 7% larger than the previous edition and welcomed 21,615 visitors from 118 countries, enjoying a 10% growth in trade visitor numbers. The next edition will kick off the Epoc Messe Frankfurt exhibitions calendar for 2014 when it takes place next week, January 19th to 21st.

Rida Hamza, General Manager, Honeywell Security Group, MENA, summarised the general atmosphere during Intersec: “Intersec was outstanding. The arrangements were great – the environment, the atmosphere, the people, the traffic – it was amazing. It is a great platform to meet partners, new customers, government representatives and influential corporate leaders.”

Also breaking records was Beautyworld Middle East, which in 2013 featured 1,096 exhibitors from 52 countries - a 32% increase on the previous edition – and welcomed over 25,000 trade visitors.

The enthusiastic response from trade visitors and buyers to the latest product lines, innovations and trends underlined the fact that the Middle East is indeed a thriving market for the beauty industry. The top five visiting countries to Beautyworld Middle East 2013 after the UAE were Iran, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan and Kuwait.

Summarising the show's true standing, Katarzyna Oledzka, Export Manager for Polish Company Harper Hygienics, explained: “Beautyworld Middle East helps to reinforce the position of our cosmetics on the Middle Eastern market.”

Automechanika Dubai 2013 reported another record breaking edition, welcoming more than 24,000 trade visitors from around 130 countries, a 16 percent increase on 2012. 25 percent larger in terms of net space occupied, the rapidly-growing trade fair featured 1,482 exhibitors from 58 countries.

Speaking about the wide product areas covered by Automechanika Dubai, Mr. Asad Abbas Badami, Managing Director for A-Map, said: “We had to be here because it is important for our identity in the automotive market and this is the only exhibition that puts all parts of the automotive industry together in one show.”

Other exhibitions organised by Epoc Messe Frankfurt in 2013 included Paperworld Middle East, which drew in  5,728 visitors (38% international) and  268 exhibitors. Hardware+Tools Middle East 2013  attracted 3,141 trade visitors and the trade fair saw 233 participating exhibitors. Representing the crucial logistics and materials handling industry, the bi-annual exhibition Materials Handling Middle East saw 3,370 trade visitors attending and 150 exhibitors. Light Middle East 2013 featured 252 exhibitors and drew in  5,024 visitors.