September 20, 2021, Abu Dhabi: As part of a long-term partnership, the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and CONNECT announced two inaugural events; Middle East Design & Build Week (MEDBW) and Middle East Manufacturing & Technology Expo (MEMT). The two physical events are scheduled to be held December 5-7, 2022 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC), United Arab Emirates.

MEDBW is the only event in the region that caters to the construction, interior design, hospitality and retail sectors within a single event. MEMT is the region’s only event dedicated to the manufacturing and industrialization industry. By co-locating the two events, attendees will benefit from numerous opportunities to present, learn and explore solutions in the construction and design as well as manufacturing and technology sectors.

The events are supported by the Abu Dhabi Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Etihad Airways and other prominent government and regional bodies in the UAE.

Over the three days of the events, attendees will attend a series of programs including informative workshops, live product demonstrations and panel discussions relating to the construction, design, manufacturing and technology industries.

Mohamed Helal Al Mheiri, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “The organization of the Middle East Design & Build Week and the Middle East Manufacturing & Technology Expo in partnership with CONNECT reflects the Chamber’s efforts to achieve national industrial strategies by providing the necessary support to the private sector to be a key player in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and to strengthen the place of the United Arab Emirates in general and Abu Dhabi in particular on the world map as a center of advanced science and industries for the next decade ”.

The Managing Director added that UAE’s construction and manufacturing industries have all the necessary tools for growth and prosperity through the UAE’s thoughtful leadership long-term futuristic vision and strategies national governments capable of changing the paradigm in manufacturing projects, in particular the “Made in Abu Dhabi” strategy which aims to boost the industrial sector, boost foreign trade and local investments in Abu Dhabi.

With easy access to the vibrant economy, the UAE region ranks first among emerging markets in the Middle East and Africa. The government’s openness to international trade, heavy investments in economic diversification plans, and the region’s strategic location have created huge business opportunities for regional and international businesses in a range of verticals. The UAE’s consistent initiatives for economic diversification have expanded the region’s role as a regional hub for trade, logistics and tourism.

The recent launch of national industrial strategies, namely “Operation 300 billion”, the strategy “Make it in the Emirates” and the campaign “Made in Abu Dhabi” aim to increase the contribution of the manufacturing sector from 133 AED to 300 billion AED (81 billion AED billion) over the next 10 years. With the objective of creating 13,500 industrial enterprises in the coming years, the volume of research and development expenditure in the industrial sector is expected to increase from AED 21 billion to AED 57 billion. The Made in Abu Dhabi campaign aims to promote the identity of Abu Dhabi’s national product, hoping to attract more local investors and encourage entrepreneurship in Abu Dhabi.

Infrastructure projects are a key part of the UAE’s economic expansion. In the long term, Abu Dhabi aims to support growth by capitalizing on investments in the commercial building sector. Under the auspices of the Abu Dhabi 2030 plan, the emirate is expected to attract 7.9 million tourists per year by 2030. An additional plan to expand shops and offices in Abu Dhabi to 4 million and 7.5 million square meters by 2030 is underway.

Amid the huge boom in the manufacturing and construction sectors, the UAE is a natural choice for event planners to host world-class business events. Visiting or exhibiting at trade events such as MEDBW and MEMT will be an optimal way to explore and develop business in the booming region. The events will provide a forum for international and local businesses to discuss investment and project opportunities, as well as bring together decision-makers from the regional public and private sector.

Khalid bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, Chairman of SABCO Group – the organizer of the events said: “Never has there been a time more than now when the need to connect in person has been so important. At CONNECT, we understand the importance of connecting buyers and sellers across the region and beyond. Our expansion into the Middle East region by launching two events in the UAE, the Middle East Design & Build Week and the Middle East Manufacturing & Technology Expo, is a testament to the demand and relevance of in-person events. Live events play a pivotal role in providing a platform to connect businesses, increase profits, network and stay on top of trending industry topics. With the support of our valued partners from the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and key government agencies in the United Arab Emirates, we are confident that both events will foster positive and meaningful engagement in the design sectors, of construction, manufacturing and technology ”.

Some of the countries that have confirmed their participation in the events are Israel, Italy, Turkey, UK, among others. With the support of leading trade associations, such as the British Contract Furnishing Association and the Manufacturing Technologies Association, the events are expected to attract participants and delegations from all over the world.

For more information visit www.middleeastdesignandbuildweek.com and www.memanufacturingandtechnology.com