PALME Middle East prepares for 10th anniversary

PALME Middle East exhibition director Richard Brook comments: “While the live event market contributes millions of dollars to the local economy, the AV integration sector is also enjoying a period of growth right across the GCC.”

This, he says, has enabled organiser Informa to place a heavy focus on Install-ME, the long-running vertical show that operates under the PALME Middle East umbrella, in both the commercial and domestic segments. 

“The construction sector is an important one within the Informa events portfolio and we will be using our extensive databases to access those vertical markets.”

Organiser Informa says that it approaches the 10th anniversary of PALME with the confidence of knowing that 2011 saw a recovery in Dubai’s economy, with an increase in tourism and hotel occupancy and a growth in GDP estimated at 3.1%, according to the Institute of International Finance (IIF).

This is reflected in the positive feedback from exhibitors at PALME Middle East, with a take-up of stand space which Richard Brook describes as “highly encouraging”.

“This is consistent with the huge amount of investment taking place in Saudi, Iran, Qatar and Abu Dhabi,” he continues. In particular, he pinpoints the recent opening of the Qatar National Convention Centre — an unparalleled ‘green’ convention facility, boasting iconic design, cutting-edge facilities and first class AV infrastructure.

 “As for Dubai itself, people may have prematurely written it off, but the Al Habtoor Group has just announced it is building Habtoor Palace [a US $1.33 billion hotel and theatre mega-project] on the site of the Metropolitan Hotel. This will be a major boost for the economy.

“In terms of trade, Dubai remains the perfect axis and the natural link between East and West.”