AHEC to participate in Interiors UAE show as Emirates interior design spending to grow to USD 22.5 billion in 2011
American hardwoods are well-established in the UAE as a preferred material for interior projects and furniture due to their wide range of species, sustainability, high-aesthetic value and excellent environmental credentials, according to the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry. Increased demand for American hardwoods in the UAE complements recent market reports that reveal that spending on interior design will increase to USD 22.5 billion in 2011. Furthermore, interior design professionals, architects, consultants and furniture makers have begun to express a preference for American hardwood species such as red oak, ash, tulipwood, cherry, hard maple and walnut. In line with this, AHEC has announced their participation in this year's edition of Interiors UAE, the Middle East's only event dedicated to delivering luxury living and design-led interior products from across the world, which will be held from May 9 to May 11, 2011 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Abu Dhabi.
AHEC's participation in this leading interior design event is aimed at strategically reinforcing the position of U.S. hardwoods as a favoured material for the region's growing number of interior projects. Aside from a wide species variety, American hardwoods also offers a great variety of colour, grain and character; from the warm, darker tones of walnut, red alder, elm, cherry and red oak to the lighter hues of white oak, maple and ash. To date, American hardwoods have been specified for a significant number of high profile projects in the region, the most well known include the Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Emirates Towers, Grand Hyatt Dubai, Bar Al Jissa Muscat, Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Ibn Battuta, and the newly opened Burj Khalifa. Leading architects and designers, as well as high end turnkey contractors and manufacturers of flooring and furniture in the region have also developed a strong appreciation of the potential offered by U.S. hardwood species, which signify further growth prospects for the product in the region.
"AHEC is deeply committed in its efforts to promote American hardwoods as a leading material of choice for the region's interior design professionals. We are currently implementing key initiatives that aim to raise awareness of American hardwoods; enabling designers, architects and consultants to learn more about the advantages and benefits obtained from using them," said Roderick Wiles, AHEC Director for Africa, Middle East, India and Oceania. "Members of the Middle East region's flourishing interior design community are constantly in search for wood varieties that offer key characteristics such as consistent quality combined with high aesthetic value. American hardwoods offer these qualities alongside strong environmental credentials as well."
"The region is increasingly demonstrating a need for high quality wood products for its interiors and furniture industries, which in turn creates an advantageous opportunity for us to assist in the growth of American hardwoods exports to the region. Amidst increasing calls for sustainability, AHEC continues to remain true to its promise of addressing the long term demands of the region and playing a key role in providing stakeholders with valuable environmental assurances and technical information that can help them use American hardwoods to their greatest potential," concluded Wiles.
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About AHEC:The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) is the leading international trade association for the U.S. hardwood industry, representing the committed exporters among U.S. hardwood companies and all the major U.S. hardwood production trade associations. AHEC runs a worldwide programme to promote American hardwoods in over 50 export markets, concentrating on providing architects, specifiers, designers and end-users with technical information on the range of species, products and sources of supply. In addition, AHEC also produces a full range of technical publications. Visit: www.americanhardwood.org.
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© Press Release 2011
