The inaugural Arabian International Home Show attracted hundreds of professional designers, contractors and interiors suppliers from across the GCC, who were eager to learn what would keep them in front of the curve when it comes to designing luxury home interiors in the region.
Held from March 8-10 at the Conrad Hotel Dubai, Arabian International Home Show featured over 100 brands from more than 20 countries covering a broad spectrum of interior design products, concepts and technologies. Speaking about the successful launch, event director Daksha Patel said: "The show comes at an excellent time for the region, when the economic climate is forcing developers and their consultants to look at cost effective and sustainable solutions for future residential developments. Interior fit-outs represent approximately 10 per cent of a development's cost and having the right suppliers in place can bring about huge cost savings in the long run."
The first day of the event attracted over 500 attendees and featured the opening of Design Studio, a three day conference organised in partnership with Association of Professional Interior Designers, the region's apex body representing the interior design industry and National Design Academy, a leading interior design college based in Dubai offering programmes in partnership with Staffordshire University in the UK. Amongst the speakers, renowned architects Federico Delrosso from Italy and Boulos Douaihy from Lebanon shared their insights on how architects, designers and developers could work together effectively to deliver successful projects for the region going forward.
Meanwhile, Dubai's key developers have vowed to press ahead with major projects, despite expectations of slight declines in property prices. Damac Properties, Dubai's largest independent developer, who also exhibited at Arabian International Home Show, has said that there is still demand in the market so they have not slowed construction.
"There will continue to be an under-supply of completed units in the market; based on Dubai's economic growth, demand should outstrip supply. It's very much business as usual," said a Damac spokesman.
