Strong exhibitor response for construction show in Saudi Arabia

Organisers of a construction- related exhibition in Saudi Arabia said there has been a tremendous response for participation in the event.

Riyadh Exhibitions Company, organiser of Saudi Build, one of the biggest business-to-business construction event in the region, said Saudi Arabia's remarkably strong construction expenditure has been the primary factor that has motivated more than 650 regional and international companies from 33 countries to confirm their participation in the event this year.

Saudi Arabia currently owns one of the world's most comprehensive housing development programmes with an estimated $6 billion (Dh22bn) being allocated for various residential projects.

At an initial cost of about $87.8bn, the kingdom is pursuing an ambitious "super project" that aims to build six 'Economic Cities'. The Cities will be home to 2.5 million residents and are expected to collectively contribute $150bn to the Saudi GDP and generate more than 1.5 million jobs by 2020.

Shahid Bhatti, Project Manager of Saudi Build at Riyadh Exhibitions Company, said: "Saudi's construction sector has remained active and lucrative despite major upheavals in other international markets, with several super projects dominating the construction landscape. The consistently strong construction and real estate expenditure has easily made the kingdom a lucrative growth destination for key players in the regional and international construction industry."

Saudi Build 2009 will be held from October 4 to 7, 2009, at the newly completed Riyadh International Exhibition Centre, one of the region's most advanced exhibition facilities.

The event will feature two concurrent exhibitions – Saudi Build 2009, the 21st International Construction Technology and Building Materials Exhibition; and Saudi Stone 2009, the 12th International Stone and Stone Technology Show.

"The surge in interest in Saudi Arabia's construction sector has been manifested by the exceptional growth in participation at Saudi Build 2009; we have now exceeded the previous record in participation by 50 per cent and expect even more entries within the next few weeks. With exhibitors from more than 33 countries, we are also seeing the extent of the kingdom's influence on the global construction scene, as companies from the Far East, Europe and other regions are highly enthusiastic about their participation in the back-to-back exhibitions," added Bhatti.

Saudi Build 2009 expects to accommodate up to 650 exhibitors spread out across a total area 23,250 square metres of indoor and outdoor exhibition space.

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