With the market for consumption of lighting fixtures in the GCC region having already touched the US$1 billion mark in 2010, leading international manufacturers and suppliers will be setting their sights on Light Middle East 2012, the region’s premier trade and networking platform, which gets underway in Dubai today (Monday, 1st October).*

Organised by Epoc Messe Frankfurt, the 2012 edition of the regional lighting design industry showcase, will take place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from Monday to Wednesday, October 1st to 3rd. Considerably bigger than the previous edition in size and exhibitor numbers, Light Middle East 2012 will highlight the large potential of the Middle East region to exhibitors and trade visitors.

“We expect intense interest among the regional players in the latest international trends and developments being show-cased at the show,” said Ahmed Pauwels, CEO, Epoc Messe Frankfurt. “Light Middle East has traditionally served as a regional launch platform for new technologies and innovative products,” he added, “and this year is no different with a wide spectrum of exhibitors representing close to 350 of the latest brands and technologies which are shaping the industry today.”

The UAE market for lighting fixtures was worth as much as US$336 million in 2010, according to a report by independent research firm CSIL, who estimated that the total consumption for the entire MENA region stood at US$1.9 billion the same year. Lighting majors such as GE Lighting, LG Electronics Inc, Corvi and Hyundai have confirmed participation. 

LG Electronics, who were responsible for the world’s largest LED lighting retrofit project on the Twin Towers in Korea, will also be present at the exhibition showcasing their range of products and expertise. They were also recently responsible for a 61% reduction in energy consumption for Dubai Municicpality’s Al Manara building. The project included the installation of LED Lighting & Solar PV Implementation and the results are the equivalent to saving 1,700 trees per year. LG Electronics will be showcasing this and other energy saving projects during the exhibition.

Mr. Vinod Sivaraman, Head of Lighting Business at LG Electronics Gulf, commented: “The ‘Go Green Al Manara’ project which we worked on for Dubai Municipality was a great success. Not only does it give significant savings in energy, but this in turn will result in cost savings as well. It is important to be present at Light Middle East in order to spread further awareness about the great potential new lighting technology can have and our stand will showcase the different opportunities available.”

Light Middle East 2012 is expected to see growing interest in energy efficient products and sustainable lighting solutions. The growing demand for green lighting solutions means that these products are likely to figure prominently on trade visi-tors’ wish lists.