Billion-dollar projects draw exhibitors

Exhibitors from as far afield as Europe, the US and the Far East are expected to visit the 19th annual Saudi Building and Interiors Exhbition to be held in Jeddah from April 4 to 7.

Citing projects totalling more than $156 billion, the Al-Harithy Company, which is organising the show, said: “The enormous investment packages recently announced by the Saudi government will place increased pressure on the demand for design consultancy and supply of interior furnishings across the kingdom.”

Major projects already in the pipeline include the $60-billion King Abdullah Economic City, 30 skyscrapers, costing around $50 billion, planned for various locations across Jeddah, the complete modernisation of Khuzam city centre, at a cost of around $11 billion, and the $4 billion development of King Abdul Aziz International Airport.

In addition budgets have been allocated for major hotel, hospital and business developments in existing urban areas throughout the kingdom which will increase the demand for interior design and supply services over the coming decade.

Al-Harithy says population growth, with 70 per cent of the population under 30, will increase demand for medical, educational and recreational facilities as well as the five million new homes forecast to be required by 2020 alongside 50,000 additional hotel rooms and 75,000 furnished apartments.

The company is promising targeted invitations to engineers, designers, consultants, specifiers, importers, agents and manufacturers etc as well as personal visits to relevant government departments and major Saudi organisations.

And following last year’s show, which attracted a record almost 19,700 visitors and overflowed the exhibition space prompting organisers to erect two temporary halls, they are hoping for an even better turn-out this year with the region being in the forefront of the economic recovery.