IIR Middle East has added to its portfolio of industry-leading exhibitions by acquiring the Abu Dhabi Wedding Show.
The company has immediately rebranded the exhibition as The Bride Show Abu Dhabi and announced plans for its expansion and development.
The next show, on March 13 – 16, 2007, will take place in the new Abu Dhabi International Exhibition Centre, an architecturally iconic exhibition complex due for completion by the end of this year.
IIR (The Institute for International Research) is the world’s largest knowledge and skills transfer company with a global network of 45 companies and 116 operating units. IIR Middle East runs over 500 business conferences, seminars and training events annually, and manages a portfolio of ten industry-leading exhibitions, including The Bride Show Dubai.
Since IIR Middle East took over The Bride Show Dubai three years ago it has doubled in size to become the largest bridal show in the Middle East, with visitor numbers increasing from 12,000 in 2004 to 29,000 in 2006. The company is now planning similar growth for The Bride Show Abu Dhabi. The event was previously organised by Dome Exhibitions and celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2006.
The show features suppliers of all products and services necessary for a perfect wedding day, from haute couture fashion, crystal embellished accessories and jewellery to photography, flower design and wedding cakes. It is targeted principally at Emirati ladies and their families as well as expatriate Arabs.
For the 2007 event the organisers are aiming for a total exhibition space of 10,000 square metres. IIR also hopes to increase the number of exhibitors to more than 250, compared with 170 at the 2006 show, and attract upwards of 30,000 visitors.
The company will also be expanding the event’s regular feature of daily fashion shows, introducing more shows and a wider range of designers, including top Lebanese and international designers.
“Since taking over organisation of The Bride Show Dubai we have witnessed a tremendous expansion of the wedding industry in the region,” said Geoffrey Booy, Group Exhibitions Director for IIR Middle East. “We had been impressed by the growth of the Abu Dhabi Wedding Show over the years and, based on our success with the Dubai show, felt that we could build on this. We aim to evolve The Bride Show Abu Dhabi into a brand easily recognisable as an event of great interest to local couples planning a wedding and their families.
“The show provides a great opportunity for suppliers involved in the wedding industry to showcase their latest products and services and meet prospective clients. Exhibitors will benefit from IIR’s knowledge, guidance and experience and will also be backed up by extensive marketing, advertising and PR campaigns to publicise the show.”
The company’s plans for the future development of the show include introducing a new section in 2008 focusing on home furnishings and decoration and reflecting the latest interior design trends in the Arab market. A similar show, titled Ambiente Al Bayt Al Arabie, was launched with great success at The Bride Show Dubai in 2006.
The Bride Show Dubai will celebrate its tenth anniversary when it takes place from 10 – 13 April, 2007 at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre. IIR is aiming to attract around 400 exhibitors, compared with 301 in 2006, and 50 per cent of the exhibition space has already been sold.
