UAE-based lighting suppliers and international manufacturers have survived, and in some cases thrived, in a pandemic-affected 2020, and now have their sights set on the Middle East’s premier exhibition for lighting, design and technology in Dubai, said the event organisers.

When the 15th edition of Light Middle East opens doors from September 28 to 30 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, exhibitors from 23 countries will shine the spotlight on how they’ve pivoted toward growing market opportunities over the last 12 to 18 months.

Local stalwarts including Abensal, Cinmar, Creation Gulf, and Scientechnic will rub shoulders with the likes of global brands such as Centrsvet, Ledvance, Perdix, Lumenova and Intiled, with all eager to reconnect and re-establish business links in one of the world’s most exciting architectural lighting design and building technology markets, said the organisers.

Scientechnic, a flagship company of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, and a major player in the Middle East lighting industry for more than four decades, is among those that has adapted quickly to the drastically altered business environment that covid-19 presented. 

Samer Moukalled, Vice President of Lighting Solutions at Scientechnic, said the retrofit lighting market, in particular in the residential sector, presented their business with a regular stream of new projects.

“Adaptation is the keyword here (in response to the pandemic), and we actually took this opportunity to expand, both our office space and our team,” said Moukalled.

He pointed out that one of the major life changes brought about by the ‘new normal’ has been the rise in the ‘work from home’ culture. “This has caused an exponential increase in demand for redesigning residential spaces with ‘home offices’ that require a re-evaluation of lighting requirements,” noted Moukalled. Moukalled said Covid-19 accelerated the adoption and testing of new lighting innovations that go beyond illumination: “The eminent slowdown brought forth by the pandemic has given innovators much needed time to come up with creative new uses of light,” he added.

According to him, UV emitting LED’s are now being used for air filtration.

Samsung has plans to install UV LEDs on up to 20 to 30 per cent of new home appliances, and they are currently investing in research to understand the exact effectiveness of its disinfection properties.