A total of 144 firms appeared as exhibitors at Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE) expo involving three distinct segments: construction, interiors and real estate.

The exhibitions – run as gulfBID, representing the construction sector; gulfInteriors, highlighting interiors offerings, and the Gulf Property Show, staged for the real estate industry – stirred interest among the business community over three days at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre and were hailed by Bahrain’s Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa as an inspiration to trade and commerce.

The Premier, who declared open the event, stressed that the real estate and urban boom in the kingdom affirms the ability of the national economy to overcome all obstacles.

He urged investors to launch their ventures in Bahrain confidently and to avail themselves of the economic openness which positions it among the region’s main investment and business destinations.

The Premier asserted that gulfBID had succeeded in attracting more companies every year, thanks to its high organisational potentials and given its importance in providing a suitable opportunity for businesses to reach deals and share expertise.

“What distinguishes gulfBID is that it is a GCC gathering that we need in order to launch more joint projects that meet the aspirations of our countries and peoples for development and progress,” the Prince said.

As in the past, the event presented technology, new products and networking opportunities. The combination show ran the full gamut of products from real estate offerings to those in construction and interiors. 

GULFBID OFFERINGS

Saudi Arabia’s Al Jazea Industrial Co showcased its manufacturing prowess at gulfBID. Launched in 1997, it specialises in making products used by contractors in the fields of water, power and telecommunications. Its iron and steel casting products include the well-known JDFF brand, which is one of the leading brands of cast iron manholes and fittings in Saudi Arabia.

These products are manufactured at two factories located in Riyadh and Dammam. The company also has a plant in Dammam for polyethylene pipes and fittings. Another plant at Al Kharj specialises in construction chemicals while its factory in Jeddah manufactures electrical panels and enclosures.

Al Nooh Wood Design, one of Bahrain’s leading designers and manufacturers of custom wood exteriors and interiors, launched a luxury flooring product called Quick-Step Livyn at gulfBID. Quick-Step Livyn is a collection of luxury vinyl floors that combines the natural look and feel of quality crafted wood with the practical benefits of vinyl tiles. The flooring is designed to be 100 per cent waterproof, making it suitable for kitchens and bathrooms with a sealed top layer of scratch-guard and stain-guard technology that protects against dirt, stains and scratches.

Another gulfBID exhibitor, Espac, presented its high-quality pre-cast aerated concrete (PAC) made in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-Emirati company, which has a plant in Dammam, has seen demand surge for its building system based on load-bearing walls using autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) products such as jumbo and other blocks, slabs, lintels, prefabricated load-bearing  vertical walls, roof tiles and partition panels.

INTERIORS AND PROPERTIES

Present at the gulfInteriors segment was leading paint manufacturer Hempel. The company introduced a new range of paints called Fusions Makhmaleyat. One of the latest products from the Fusions brand, it has a velvet finish which adds elegance to the interior walls, said Jamil Matraji, area sales manager, Hempel.

“The final look varies in colour tone from dark to light, symbolising the movement of a fabric. While it takes more time to dry, it gives the applicator the flexibility to fix and retouch it,” explained the official.

Saudi Arabia’s Asseeb displayed its range of paints and putty at gulfInteriors. Asseeb was established in 1980 as an importer of paints from a factory in Torino, Italy. It opened its own factory in Riyadh in 2000, which has since been operating successfully, producing all kinds of high-quality paint products, said a company spokesman.

Bahrain’s leading interior design brand Mobilia Uno wowed audiences at gulfInteriors with its modern furniture designs and special exhibition discounts.

“For Mobilia Uno, we see gulfInteriors as an important promotion tool for our designs and products. Our designs are a proud statement of modernity and sophistication,” said Zahra Hajji, its managing director.

National Paints, a first-time exhibitor, introduced Expressions at gulfInteriors. Expressions is a new family of products that creates distinctive effects on walls, which accentuate and complement any decorative style, said its marketing manager Basel Yassin.

The Gulf Property Show boasted a plethora of exhibitors, clearly indicating that the real estate market in the region has significant potential. 

Present among the lot were Eagle Hills, an Abu Dhabi-based private real estate investment and development company, Diyar Al Muharraq, a Bahrain firm which was a strategic sponsor for the show, and Kuwait-based developer Homes Real Estate. The latter, making its debut, showcased properties in some of Turkey’s major cities.

The second phase of the Durrat Marina was promoted to attract third-party developers. Eskan Properties Co, owned by Eskan Bank, introduced Danat Al Luwzi, a landlord tie-up to develop two plots at Al Lawzi, west of Hamad Town in Bahrain.

Middle East Computer Services (Mecos) showcased home automation solutions.