H.H Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurates the exhibition at the Dubai World Trade Centre

INDEX 2012 features over 900 exhibitors and a rich programme of seminars and events dedicated to the interior design and architecture world

Dubai, September 24, 2012 -INDEX, the Middle East and North Africa's largest and longest established Interiors and Design Exhibition, was inaugurated today by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, at the at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Taking place for the 22nd consecutive year, the show brings together local and international interior design companies and industry professionals for four days. INDEX 2012 is organised by dmg :: events Middle East and will run till Thursday 27th September.

Commenting on the show's opening, Frederique Maurell, INDEX Event Director, said: "We are honoured to have H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, here today to inaugurate INDEX 2012; the support that we have been receiving from the UAE government for the last 22 years has helped us to become recognised as the leading design exhibition in the MENA region.

"With four completely new product specific show sectors and new exciting features for 2012, such as the Design Cinema and the Ignite Pecha Kucha style presentations, we are expecting to attract and inspire tens of thousands of visitors and to provide them with a fulfilling professional experience," continued Ms Maurell.

Covering 34,000m2 of floor space, INDEX 2012 hosts over 900 exhibitors presenting their latest products and innovations to the region. Featuring ten product specific shows - Furniture, Furnishings, Couture, Kitchen & Bathroom, Lighting, Textiles, Outdoor Living, Inspire, InRetail, Surfaces & Finishes - and 20 national pavilions, INDEX gives visitors a comprehensive overview of the latest in international design and interiors trends.

The long list of exhibitors includes global interiors and design industry leaders such as: Archetypal Gallery, Ariel, Arte di Murano, Baltus, Blue Rhine, Cappelletti, Cassandra Cucina, Contractor Home, Cover Story, Delta, Ego Paris, Elstead Lighting, Fatih Kiral, Houles Paris, Jet Class, Johnson Tiles, Alef Gallery, LED World, Luc Druez, Mainetti, Nafpliotis Galssfous, Naqsh Gallery, Neil Corder Photography, NIC Gallery, Pasaya, Poly Products, RAME, Siesta / Isilplast Plastik, Simexa Skyline, Soher, Tapicap Carpets, The Horologist, Vinaldi, WIND.

"INDEX, is not only the right place for interior design professionals from the MENA region to source products and new ideas for their projects from local and international design brands and manufacturers, but provides them with a prefect platform to network and discuss about industry's hot topics with some of the market's gurus" said Ms Maurell.

INDEX Design Talks, the free to attend programme of seminars, kicked off today with inspiring  sessions held by Rob Cooke, Associate at Buro Happold; Richard Gomersall, Founding Partner of Insight With Passion; Isabella Magalhaes, Design Director at Esadore International; Mr Joel Carboni, President of Green Project Management.

The Talks will continue tomorrow covering topics such as "Right Light, Right Place, Right Time" with David McNeill, Associate, dpa lighting consultants FZ LLC Dubai, UAE;  "High Performance Leather for Interior Design Applications"  with Jean-Marie Gigante, General Manager, Al Khaznah Tannery ; and "Trends and Developments in the Retail Sector" by Sana Toukan, Research Manager - Middle East, Euromonitor International.

INDEX 2012 is open to Industry Professionals and Trade Visitors every day from 11am to 7pm, with a late night opening planned on Wednesday 26th until 9pm; non-trade visitors will have the opportunity to visit INDEX on the public open day, Thursday 27th September 2012. Entry to INDEX is free for industry professionals, members of the public can visit the show on the final day with tickets priced at AED150.

For the full list of exhibitors and more information on the exhibition events and features, please visit www.indexexhibition.com .

-Ends-

About INDEX:
The INDEX International Design Exhibition is the largest event for the architect and design industry in the Middle East. It attracts more than 900 exhibitors from 45 countries, taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

For 22 years INDEX has provided a business and networking opportunity for buyers and sellers of interiors products and services from around the world to source an astounding array of the very latest design innovations, trends and techniques.

More than just an exhibition, the event provides attendees with unrivalled access to information, intelligence, contacts and hands on experience. Experts from around the world engage in the industry's most topical discussions, finding design solutions, facing challenges and seizing opportunities. The show is the gateway to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) providing both exhibitors and visitors with the opportunity to conduct serious business with like-minded professionals.

About dmg :: events
The INDEX Exhibition is organised by dmg :: events (formerly known as dmg world media), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT, www.dmgt.co.uk), one of the largest media companies in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1989, the company now manages over 80 exhibitions, conferences and online platforms for a variety of industries in up to 25 countries each year.

dmg :: events is a leading supplier of face-to-face business information, with a customer-centric focus that localizes operations and relationships. Its objectives are to keep businesses informed and connect them with relevant consumers to create vibrant marketplaces across multiple event platforms. dmg :: events is divided into the following five divisions:

1. Energy (including the Global Petroleum Show, Gastech, World Heavy Oil Congress and others) 

2. GLM (including the New York International Gift Fair, Surf Expo, ICFF and others)

3. Middle East (ADIPEC, The Big 5, INDEX, the Hotel Show, the Office Exhibition, Reflex Publishing and others)

4. Leadership Conferences (including CIO, CFO, CMO and HR events)

5. Digital Marketing (including ad:tech, iMEdia Summits and iMedia Connection)

For more information contact:
Daniela Gorini at ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
+971 4 450 7645 / +971 56 705 8675
daniela.gorini@bm.com 

© Press Release 2012