Hospitality sector contributes 70% to the outdoor furniture market

Dubai, UAE, September 30, 2013

Al Baddad International has concluded its first participation in The Hotel Show 2013 in Dubai successfully, with a noticeable increase in demand for its latest line of outdoor furniture. The company showcased a wide selection of innovative products created by top-tier European design houses and manufactured as part of a recently-announced partnership with HIGOLD, a China-based leading manufacturer.

"We are very pleased with the amount of interest we received during The Hotel Show," said Zayed Al Baddad, Chairman of Al Baddad International. "The growing demand for our latest product line is testament to the quality we provide and our reputation in the market. It is also a powerful indication of the strong economic recovery that Dubai and its core economic sectors are witnessing today."

The outdoor and furniture market in the GCC has been growing at 20 percent annually over the past few years, according to industry reports. Among the region's countries, the United Arab Emirates has been the fastest-growing market with strong demand for the products on the back of burgeoning hospitality and retail sectors. The UAE and the region are expected to maintain this growth rate for the next decade, thanks to upcoming hospitality and leisure projects.

Approximately 70 percent of demand for outdoor furnishings comes from the hospitality industry. In 2013 alone, 144 hotels are scheduled to open in the Middle East and North Africa region, with another 141 hotels to join the
market next year. The number of hotels under construction in the region stands at 483, according to reports by STR Global.

Al Baddad International's latest product line is designed to meet the wide ranging needs of today's hospitality industry. Through its agreement with HIGOLD, Al Baddad is set to expand its offering in the market from 420 to more than 600 unique products to meet the needs of the most discerning customers. The range is being manufactured in China, with high-quality materials sourced from Italy and models created by established European design houses.

The company made its debut into the outdoor and garden furniture market four years ago, after identifying a market gap resulting from the availability of high-end products at exorbitant prices or lower-end furnishings with poor quality. Al Baddad immediately had an edge on the competition, offering customers not only high-quality products at affordable rates, but also a guarantee on their purchase against weather conditions such as humidity and high temperatures. Soon after its market entry, the company achieved record sales in a short period of time.

The new line of manufacturing has already started, with a focus on creating products that are exclusive, functional, trendy and capable of withstanding harsh weather conditions. As a start, Al Baddad will serve markets including the Gulf Co-Operation Council (GCC) countries, Jordan and Europe, with plans to expand further afield in the future.

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About Al Baddad International:
Al Baddad International, which falls under Al Baddad Holding, is one of the largest companies for supplying tents and prefab buildings globally. Headquartered at Techno Park in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the company exports its products and solutions to 36 countries around the world and holds the biggest share in several international markets where it operates.

Al Baddad International offers a complete bundle of solutions for tents and prefab buildings with the highest quality and to a wide variety of industries and purposes. These range from social and organizational requirements, sports and industrial activities to military and humanitarian missions.

Since its inception in the UAE in 1971, Al Baddad International achieved numerous successes that have transformed it into the biggest global provider of tents and prefab buildings. This also contributed to building strong business relations with a large number of official governmental and military bodies, in addition to international organizations such as the United Nations. Al Baddad supports the UN with its products across different countries where the organization provides humanitarian aid such as Afghanistan and Darfur. The company is also the biggest provider of tents and solutions for the annual event of Hajj, the Muslim's pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia .

Press Release 2013