International stone exporters chisel out Middle East Market with natural, durable products 01.09.2018: Companies from Brazil, Italy and Turkey will seize opportunity as regional construction industry accommodates mega-projects Fuelled by a line-up of mega-projects, the MENA

Companies from Brazil, Italy and Turkey will seize opportunity as regional construction industry accommodates mega-projects



Fuelled by a line-up of mega-projects, the MENA region’s natural stone industry is expanding to accommodate the construction industry’s demand for the application of natural stone in interior and exterior design.



Durable stone such as granite and marble from Brazil, Italy and Turkey are slated to be the centrepiece of international pavilions during next week’s Middle East Stone, 4-6 September at the Dubai World Trade Centre.



Leading stone trade and supplier associations from Brazil, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, India and China represent some of the country pavilion exhibitors using Middle East Stone as a springboard into the regional market.



Gianpaolo Bruno, Trade Commissioner to the UAE, Oman and Pakistan for the Italian Trade Agency, believes that the perception of stone as a luxury material and recent association with sustainability has secured its position as a desired product.



He said: “Stone is the world's oldest building material and has continued to be used in and on new structures. Natural stone epitomizes beauty, history, culture, and in the mind of the people in all the cultures of the world, it is intrinsically associated with luxury, quality and permanence.



“Nowadays the use of natural stone is more and more associated with sustainable and environmentally-friendly building concepts. Furthermore, many economies have emerged as new producers in the global arena and the demand of natural stone is spurring.”



In light of increased demand for natural stone in the region, dmg Events, the show organisers have partnered with Use Natural Stone, a campaign set up by the Natural Stone Institute to promote its uses in residential and commercial applications.



Yan Wang, Event Director, Middle East Stone, said: “The Use Natural Stone campaign echoes a large part of what the show stands for by promoting the genuine qualities of natural stone and its uses. Across the three days of Middle East Stone, exhibitors will showcase products that embody characteristics such as durability, versatility and sustainability.



“Over the course of the exhibition, as well as the Stone Conference, one of our major aims is to educate delegates on the impact natural stone can have. From architecture through to construction, there is a large variety of stone available that can be applied in both interior and exterior designs.”



In addition to popular marble and granite products, Brazilian exporters are keen to bring more exotic stones to MENA region.



Giovani Araldi. Sales Director for Santo Antonio, one of Brazil’s leading natural stone producers, said: “We have seen a rise in the popularity of quartzite due to its versatility and superior strength compared to other construction materials. It has a hardness that can be likened to granite or marble, and can be applied in residential and commercial projects.



“Moreover, quartzite does not absorb excessive heat in the sun and does not present physical-mechanical problems, such as cracking through over-exposure to heat.”

Middle East Stone is sponsored by Sun Italia and Arwani, and supported by the Natural Stone Institute, Assimagra, Confindustria Marmomacchine, Enterprise Greece, Brasil Original Stones, Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Abirochas, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Economy, UAE Contractors’ Association and Developers & Builders Alliance.



The show will also feature a host of additional country pavilions showcasing the latest designs, products and machinery from China, Portugal, and the UAE. For more information, please visit: www.middleeaststone.com.





Sean Muir, Total Communications Dubai - also photos