Now in its 13th edition, Project Qatar 2016 has further raised its global profile by winning UFI approval and taking place at a larger venue with three new events.

Qatar’s most important exhibition for the construction industry is set to mark a major milestone this year when it moves into a new larger venue – the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) – symbolising the tremendous growth the event has witnessed over the past 12 years.

Now in its 13th edition, Project Qatar has become a destination of choice for regional and international industry professionals looking to penetrate Qatar’s multi-billion-dollar construction sector.

The international construction technology and building materials exhibition is set to take place next month (May 9 to 12) and aims to provide a dynamic platform for buyers and suppliers to establish contacts and leverage the opportunities afforded by Qatar’s construction sector. The event will also serve as a launchpad for manufacturers and suppliers to unveil the latest equipment, technology and product breakthroughs in construction under one roof to a regionwide audience.

“Project Qatar 2016 has strong backing from the Qatari Government, a principal and influential patron behind its success and continuity. It is also the only international fair that has managed to gain the support of tens of national export and trade departments from five continents,” says George Ayache, general manager of IFP Qatar, the event organiser.

He says governments and pavilions from five continents have been participating at the show every year, placing Project Qatar on the international calendar alongside other major construction exhibitions.

“For this year, we have confirmed participations from Belgium, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, the UAE, the UK and Vietnam,” he tells Gulf Construction.

Around 900 to 1,000 local, regional and international exhibitors are expected to join, he adds.

DECC, one of the largest exhibition centres in the Gulf, is a pillar-free venue with a modular wall system, high-tech meeting and conference rooms, an exquisite VIP hosting suite and an underground parking for 3,000 vehicles.

Project Qatar will be spread across the five halls of the centre covering 30,000 sq m of space, along with the concurrently-run Heavy Max exhibition covering 3,000 sq m in the outside area.

“By moving to the new venue, we aim at ensuring the most favourable exhibition experience and accommodating the exponentially growing needs of the exhibition for both visitors and exhibitors,” says Ayache.

He continues: “Located in the lively West Bay area, the epicentre of Qatar’s business district in the capital, the new venue will definitely guarantee more visitors, better amenities, and less road traffic. In addition, the DECC is situated just a few minutes away from the popular corniche waterfront, the cultural village of Katara, and many of Qatar’s finest hotels and luxury tourist attractions.”

Apart from that, Ayache says opening hours for Project Qatar 2016 have also changed. “The decision is based on a survey conducted on both visitors and exhibitors where the majority agreed on having the show start at 2 pm and end at 9 pm.”

This year’s edition will also see the launch of three new events that will run concurrently with the show: Qatar Smart Technologies 2016, an innovative smart construction solutions show; Qatar Sports Infrastructure 2016, an exhibition for sports infrastructure; and Qatar Transport and Logistics, the transport and logistics exhibition.

These events are in addition to the other successful events that are now in their fifth and 13th editions respectively: Qatar Stone Tech 2016, a stone and stone technology show; and Heavy Max 2016, an exhibition for heavy machinery.

Meanwhile, Project Qatar now bears the industry-wide stamp of approval for tradeshow authenticity and effectiveness; the exhibition is now a Union of International Fairs (UFI)-approved event, the spokesman points out.

“UFI approval is regarded as a solid indicator of a show’s popularity, service quality and level of internationalism. This makes Project Qatar the first construction industry exhibition in the country to be associated with UFI. IFP Qatar assigned KPMG, one of the big four auditing firms, to audit and certify the key exhibition figures for Project Qatar,” Ayache points out.

“We initiated the process of bringing total transparency in our operations with the independent audit. The ‘UFI approved’ label will provide an assurance to Project Qatar exhibitors and visitors who will benefit from a professionally planned and managed event,” Ayache adds.

Some 1,130 exhibitors showcased their products and services at last year’s event.

Seminars

Each year, Project Qatar stages a series of high-level concurrent events and activities that focus attention on learning, sharing insights, networking and exposure. Among such events is the Project Qatar Business Intelligence Series seminars which will be held at the InterContinental Hotel The City, Doha. These include Future BIM Implementation Qatar and the LightingTech Qatar.

Future BIM Implementation Qatar will address the growing use of building information modelling (BIM) technologies in Qatar and explore how utilising BIM can ensure that major construction and infrastructure projects are delivered to design specifications, within the agreed timelines and on budget.

Meanwhile, LightingTech Qatar will look at how to balance design, engineering, compliance and the incorporation of developing technologies to meet the challenges and opportunities of Qatar’s rapidly developing lighting industry.

Reflecting its commitment to innovation, IFP Qatar, in collaboration with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce, last year launched the Project Qatar Workshop Series that included eight specialised construction-related workshops, offering attendees a comprehensive educational programme with classes emphasising industry issues and trends, management and applied technology, among others. The workshops aim to inform participants about the latest technology, industry advances and trending themes.

Project Qatar and the concurrently held specialised events are expected to capitalise on the huge opportunities afforded by Qatar’s market as it gears up to host the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

“Down the road towards organising the Fifa World Cup, and realising the Qatar National Vision 2030, Qatar has embarked on a massive nationwide programme of investment in order to expand and upgrade its infrastructure, stadiums, facilities and transportation systems,” says Rawad Sleem, project manager of IFP Qatar.

“The scope of the planned projects and the scale of required investment are massive. With nearly $346 billion of projects currently in the planning or construction phase, and an estimated $168 billion worth of projects to be awarded over the next few years, Qatar has become the centre of attraction for big companies and a road to big opportunities for entrepreneurs,” he emphasises.

Some of Qatar’s mega projects include the $7-billion New Doha Port, roads and highways projects worth an estimated $20 billion, and eight eco-friendly stadium which are expected to cost $32 billion. Meanwhile, the estimated value of contracts to be awarded in 2016 is $48.9 billion.

“This means more opportunities for exhibiting companies at Project Qatar 2016. Many multinational firms have the chance to establish a presence in the country. And with Doha’s strategic geographical location in the Gulf region, it allows it to cater to the entire area,” adds Sleem.

IFP Qatar also arranges site visits to some of the mega projects in the country for the international visitors. In addition, Project Qatar hosts a business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking platform which is designed for professionals to meet exhibitors that match their products and work profile, Sleem adds.

Last year’s edition surpassed all expectations, thanks to an overwhelming response from both exhibitors and visitors, says Sleem. Some 1,130 exhibitors and 21 national pavilions took part representing more than 2,000 companies and brands on 41,500 sq m of exhibition space. There were more than 32,000 visitors from 40 countries.