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HE 13th edition of Light Middle East, the region’s premier exhibition, conference, and awards program for lighting design and technology, opened in Dubai on Sunday featuring 333 exhibitors from 30 countries.

Running for three days and spanning some 13,430sqm of space at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event is nine percent larger than the previous edition.

With a packed value-added program and the world’s leading lighting solutions providers on board, Light Middle East 2018 was flagged off by Saeed Mohammed Ahmed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).

It arrives amid a resurgent regional construction sector along with substantial manufacturing and industrial investments, while demand for smart lighting and building automation technologies is also expected to grow by double digits in the coming years.

Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, organizer of Light Middle East, said: “Large scale construction activity and considerable investment by regional governments into industrial and commercial infrastructure is expected to sustain long term demand for the latest in lighting technology and innovations.”

“Research has shown that the region will continue to be a major growth market for LED and smart lighting systems in particular, due to the existence of increasingly environmentally-aware governments and local populations.”

“Infrastructure developments coupled with comprehensive smart city initiatives are key indicators of the market potential, while the drop in LED costs and increased demand for energy efficient lighting have kept the market in a decidedly upbeat mood.”

“Valued at U4.4 billion in 2017, the Middle East lighting fixtures market is tipped to grow 10 per cent annually up to 2024, when revenues will top US$8.7 billion. Saudi Arabia currently holds the lion’s share of the regional market, with a 30 percent stake in 2017 (US$1.32 billion), while the UAE holds a 13 percent share (US$572 million),” Pauwels added.

Trade buyers and industry professionals will attend technical presentations, live demos and workshops from leading global players involved in IoT lighting and building automation technologies.

Light & Design is another new section focusing solely on decorative lighting products, while at the conclusion of the event’s second day on Monday, the Light Collective will present The Perfect Light, a thought-provoking documentary giving voice to over 20 leading lighting designers with the mission of exploring the development of light and evolution of LED (light Emitting Diode).

Meanwhile, on the show floor, more than 100 global manufacturers were launching new products in the Middle East market, including Italian manufacturer iGuzzini, which unveiled to the Middle East public for the very first time its Digital Light Experience.

Sergio Padula, Technical Director and Lighting Expert at iGuzzini Middle East, said: “The Digital Light Experience is a virtual 3D experience revolutionizing the way we interact with luminaires and lighting effects.” — SG