Futuristic models, latest technology to be unveiled at 5th Middle East International Motor Show

By Ashutosh Kumar, July 14, 1999, ...

Motor shows around the world are a universal tool for automobile manufacturers to display the latest in technology, design and innovation. Carmakers, accessory suppliers and commercial vehicles producers participate in exhibitions to meet their clients, dealers, see what competitors have produced and understand the needs of customers from a particular region. From that point of view, Middle East International Motor Show that will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from November 10 to 14, 1999, fits the bill. The biggest automotive exhibition in the region is a credible platform where companies from around the world exhibit the very best in automobile technology and products. It is an event where the regional auto industry gathers once every two years to conduct business make fresh contacts and launch new cars as well as introduce related products and services.

The 5th Middle East International Motor Show will be spread over a floor space of an estimated 40,000 square meters. The exhibition will carry the theme, `Into the Next Millennium', and focus on futuristic models as well as the latest in automobile technology. Being the last show in this century, it will be used by manufacturers to introduce concept cars and auto-related products for the 21st century.

The Middle East in general and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) in particular are fast-growing markets for automobiles. For instance, a low-volume but high-value market in the GCC is Kuwait where top-end luxury cars are in good demand. Countries such as the UAE where over 50 per cent of the national population is still under the driving age and high-consumption markets such as Saudi Arabia where the total number of automobile units sold per year exceeds 100,000 units present enormous and untapped opportunities for automobile manufacturers. A case in the point is Japan. The total Japanese export of automobiles (passenger cars less than 1400 cc, in between 1400 cc and 1800 cc, and 4x4 vehicles) to the GCC countries for the year 1998 stood at 109,979 units. Toyota exported 39,766 units, Nissan 20,503 units and Mitsubishi 27978 units to the GCC countries during 1998, according to the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA).

``Demand for cars in countries such as the UAE is heavy. The Middle East International Motor Show is ideally placed to provide plenty of opportunities to the industry world-wide to expand and/or penetrate in to the regional market. The exhibition attracts some of the biggest automobile and related products' companies from around the world and is a one-stop-shop for trade professionals,'' Wahid Attalla, general manager, Dubai World Trade Centre, said.

The motor show, like in the previous years, has two offshoots, namely `International Commercial Vehicle Exhibition' (COMVEX) and `Motor Parts & Accessories', and the three events put together cover the entire range of automobile products and services. COMVEX will display the latest technology and models in commercial vehicles segment and has been designed to attract the attention of heavy vehicle users. Automotive parts, accessories and components is a multi million dollar trade in the Middle East, which has the highest cars-per-household ratio in the world. The continuously increasing number of vehicles on the road has created a substantial demand for garage and forecourt equipment for the service industry, which is an integral part of the automotive trade. Motor Parts & Accessories profile include automotive parts, accessories & components, audio/video equipment, car-care products, cooling systems, electro-mechanical parts, petroleum products and lubricants etc.

``The exhibition for commercial vehicles and the one for motor parts and accessories are very important. The two exhibitions complete the main event in such a way that spending their valuable time in visiting the venue satisfies visitors. The motor show is an ideal venue to meet a lot of trade professionals and clients from all over the Middle East'', Attalla said.

The single most important selling point of the Middle East International Motor Show is its ability to meet the requirement of visitors, who come from all over the region. As is well known, the success of any exhibition anywhere in the world hinges on its ability to meet the demands of visitors and the motor show in Dubai well exceeds this requirement. One of the reason why exhibitors from all over the world are participating in the motor how is the quality of visitors the exhibition attracts from within the region as well as outside. A reflection of this is the number of international automobile companies participating this year. Over 40 vehicle manufacturers from Europe, Asia and the US will show off the latest in design and technology the motor industry from around the world has on offer. Approximately 400 companies from 30 countries will be participating in the exhibition which is expected to have a visitor turnout of an estimated 60,000 people from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Iran and the Indian sub-continent.

``The Motor Show over the years has established itself as a strong international platform for the automotive industry in the Middle East. It enables manufacturers and dealers to study and monitor the market trends on a time-to-time basis and implement effective measures so as to increase their market share,'' said Pankaj Nadkarni, project manager of the Middle East International Motor Show.

Middle East International Motor Show, open for trade and general public at specified timings, is hosted and organised by Dubai World Trade Centre, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The exhibition will run for five days and will also host a driving skills competition organised by Dubai-based Emirates Motor Sports Federation. The DWTC hosts 44 exhibitions every year and organises 11 of these. Over the past two decades, the Trade Centre has been promoting commerce and has supported the government's efforts to establish Dubai as a hub of business activities in the Middle East.

For further information, please contact:
Ashutosh Kumar, Public Relations Executive, Corporate Communication Division, Dubai World Trade Centre LLC, PO Box 9292 Dubai UAE.
tel:009714-3086088, fax:009714-3064033, [email] [web]

... and November 9, 1999

Middle East International Motor Show '99 will be inaugurated today (10th November 1999) at Dubai World Trade Centre. The exhibition will over the next four days be a dedicated launch-pad for numerous new models, a virtual showcase of the latest in automobile technology and design, and a point of introduction of auto spare parts and accessories by participants that represent approximately 300 companies globally.

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The motor show, which will run until 14th November, is the biennial convergence of almost the entire automobile industry in the Middle East. This year's theme 'Into the Millennium' has kept in mind the dawn of the 21st Century and gigantic leap automakers have made in automobile technology and design. Consequently, the motor show is exhibiting revolutionary concept cars proposed for the new millennium by several manufacturers. "Middle East International Motor Show sets the trend for the automobile industry in the region. It showcases the latest models of passenger cars and the ultimate in design and technology. Spare parts and accessories line-up is exhaustive and professional visitors coming from the region will find the exhibition worth their valuable time," Pankaj Nadkarni, International Project Manager, Dubai World Trade Centre, said.

Two other exhibitions - the 4th International Commercial Vehicle Exhibition (COMVEX) and Motor Parts & Accessories '99 - are being held concurrently with the Middle East Motor Show. COMVEX is displaying the latest technology and models in commercial vehicles' segment. Motor Parts & Accessories' profile include automotive parts, accessories & components, audio/video equipment, car-care products, electro-mechanical parts, petroleum products and lubricants and other automotive related products and services.

"Dubai World Trade Centre has included the spare parts and commercial vehicles exhibitions in the main event to make it complete in all respects keeping in mind the best interests of our visitors. We endeavor to create an environment where all those related to the automobile industry are represented in the exhibition either directly or through an agent," Nadkarni said. One of the major strengths of the motor show is its ability to meet the requirement of visitors wanting to see the latest from the best. Approximately 40 vehicle manufacturers from Europe, Asia and the US have lined up the latest in the motor industry from around the world. About 300 companies from more than 30 countries are represented in the exhibition that is expected to attract an estimated 60,000 visitors from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Iran and the Indian Sub-continent.

Car brands represented in the exhibition include Ferrari, Maserati, Honda, Toyota, Volvo, Ford, General Motors, BMW, Rover, TVR, Porsche, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Suzuki among others.

The Middle East in general and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) in particular are fast-growing markets for automobiles. For instance, a low-volume but high-value market in the GCC is Kuwait where top-end luxury cars are in good demand. Countries such as the UAE where over 50 per cent of the national population is still under the driving age and high-consumption markets such as Saudi Arabia where the total number of automobile units sold per year exceeds 100,000 units present enormous and untapped opportunities for automobile manufacturers. A case in the point is Japan, which exported an estimated 111,833 automobile units to the Middle East during the first five months of 1999. In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the Japanese carmakers exported around 85,436 units in the period under purview, according to Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA).

"Demand for cars in countries such as the UAE is heavy. The Middle East International Motor Show is ideally placed to provide plenty of opportunities to the industry worldwide to expand and/or penetrate in to the regional market. The exhibition attracts some of the biggest automobile and related products' companies from around the world and is a one-stop-shop for trade professionals," Nadkarni said.

In order to make the exhibition more interesting for visitors, UK-based The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has co-organised along with Dubai World Trade Centre a seminar and workshops on the automobile industry on November 11, 1999, at the motor show. "The seminar will generate a lot of ideas for improving profits and look at the trade from a variety of perspectives," John Clarke, manager of IMI's Gulf office in Muscat, said. The speakers at the seminar include Andy Owen from Andy Owen and Associates, Bill Naylor from Bill Naylor Associates, Andrew Parker from Fourmative Ltd, Roger Whalley from Roger Whalley Associates of the UK; Gene Williams from Auto Strategies International Inc of the US; and John Clarke from the IMI. The topics of the seminar include: How to use contemporary direct marketing techniques?; How some UK dealers have doubled their profits in service and parts by innovative thinking?; Training solutions that will improve your profitability; Used cars problems or profits; and Vehicle market and census analysis worldwide.

Emirates Motor Sports Federation has organised a driving skills competition at Dubai World Trade Centre during the exhibition. "The Emirates Motor Sports Federation is once again a part of the premium motoring event in the Middle East through its driving skills contest," Khalid Al Malik, manager, Emirates Motor Sports Federation, said. The driving skills contest is open to both men and women with valid UAE driving license and the top three drivers in categories to be specified by the organisers will receive a certificate and an award. In addition, the top three drivers will also qualify for a grand finale to be held on the last day of the exhibition and receive a prize from the organisers. The driving skill contest will be held from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM everyday during the show. Middle East International Motor Show, open for trade and general public, is hosted and organised by Dubai World Trade Centre. The exhibition will run for five days and will be the meeting point of the automotive industry in the Middle East.

For further information, please contact:
Ashutosh Kumar, Public Relations Executive, Corporate Communication Division, Dubai World Trade Centre LLC, PO Box 9292 Dubai UAE. tel:009714-3086088, fax:009714-3064033, [email] [www]

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