Best of British

Wilson highlighted Alomi Real Wood Floors, a manufacturer of wood flooring, among the British companies that have already made their mark in the UAE.

"Alomi products can be seen in almost every five-star hotel in the UAE," he noted.

Brilliant Adventures was also mentioned for having created a storm of interest in the region, with its infinity candles and Kaleidasphere range, while The Specialist Washing Co is also making significant inroads, he said.

"The Wuduseat is a single, purpose-built appliance in which visitors to prayer room can undertake ritual washing in a safe, comfortable and digified manner," Wilson explained.

On show

Growing awareness of the scope of opportunity available in this market guaranteed strong participation from British stakeholders at this year's Exclusive Showcase of British Design.

"Interiors and design companies in the UK are fully aware of the construction boom and the opportunities that exist in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the other emirates, due to the amount of publicity in the British media in recent years.

"Many British interior designers are moving in and offering their services. In addition, several of them have opened up regional offices in order to better make themselves available to opportunities in the Gulf region, especially the UAE," Wilson maintained.

Past editions of the annual showcase, now in its third year, have yielded good business opportunities, with at least 20% of attendees having formed business partnerships in the UAE or successfully sold their product into the market, as a result. With the effectiveness of the event measured not in footfall but in the quality of visitors, this year's showcase was deemed a definite success by Steel.

"The footfall at our events is never designed to be large; we are seeking to attract visitors of a high calibre and to give both the visitor and the delegate time at the event to begin developing their relationships. At this year's event we achieved this significantly better than in the previous two years and most of our delegates have already begun to progress the valuable contacts they made during the day."

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