The study was conducted by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.
There are 16 exhibition centres in operation in the GCC states, which include Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. They provide a total
net covered exhibition space of 243,300 sqm.
By 2009, four new centres will be operational, raising the GCC's total available exhibition
space to 430,000 sqm.
In 2006, 289 trade fairs were held in the GCC states, an increase of 40% since 2002.
The Challenger Hall at IMPACT in Bangkok Sixteen new trade fairs and exhibitions will be launched
in 2007.
Jochen Witt, UFI president, said: "It is clear the GCC exhibitions market is in a period of significant expansion, demonstrated by the increasing
sophistication and economic value of the regional event sector.
UFI study shows Gulf region expansion
DUBAI A new study has found that the exhibition industry in the Gulf Coast Countries (GCC) has entered a significant "boom and adjustment" period.
