Automechanika Dubai’s 2015 edition attracted a record 1,889 exhibitors and 30,835 visitors, besting both the previous year’s total of 1,696 exhibitors and 28,709 visitors by a sizeable margin.
The pivotal event for the region’s automotive aftermarket coincided with the release of economic figures by Dubai Customs revealing the value of Dubai’s trade for auto parts in 2014 as $12bn – an increase of 10% on 2013.
The 2014 figure included $7bn in imports of auto parts, engine components, tyres and accessories, and $5bn in exports and re-exports – reinforcing Dubai’s status as a liaison between manufacturing and consuming markets.
“The double-digit growth of Dubai’s auto parts trade underlines the Emirate’s role as a gateway to emerging markets throughout the world,” confirmed Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East.
“This growth goes hand-in-hand with Automechanika Dubai – the only platform for automotive aftermarket participants to expand their business networks not only in the Middle East and Africa, but also the subcontinent and CIS.”
At the forefront of the show’s news, ENOC Lubricants announced a 5,000m2 lubricants and grease manufacturing plant in Dubai to complement its existing facility in Fujairah.
Mohammed El Sadek, director of the ENOC division, noted: “If we look at the mix of visitors to Automechanika Dubai, we are looking at a lot of these countries we still don’t have business in, so it’s important to be here.”
Also present was the Belgian-headquartered WABCO, a leading supplier of electronic braking, stability, suspension and transmission automation systems for heavy-duty commercial vehicles.
Sherif El-Sheikh, the region head for WABCO’s trailer systems, aftermarket and off-highway division, added: “The Middle East is closing close the gap with the advanced safety and efficiency technologies more common in developed markets, so now is the perfect time to do business in the MEA region.”
Irish waterless carwash provider No-H2O’s also signed an exclusive franchise agreement with Central Trading Company (CTC) – part of the Al Rostamani Group – a deal expected to exceed $2.7m in value.
The full debrief of Automechanika Dubai 2015 will feature in the next issue of PMV Middle East.
