A number of international pavilions from Europe, the Subcontinent, the Far East and the Middle East, have committed to this year’s INDEX – the gateway trade show to the regional interiors and fit-out market – which will run at the Dubai World Trade Centre from May 23-25.
Italy, Turkey, India, Portugal, Korea, and France are just some of the countries which will fly their national flags at the pavilions. With the Italians promising to focus their country’s participation on luxury furniture, Italy’s most prominent furniture manufacturers and interior fit-out suppliers will be on hand to promote their workmanship which has seen them deliver bespoke interiors for palaces, villas, and luxury hotels, including gold leaf-infused marble, hand-crafted wooden floors, richly decorated doors, and panelled walls.
“Mordor Intelligence has forecast the luxury furniture market in the GCC will grow by 5.5% annually until 2026, and producers are looking to the region to help spur a post-Covid bounce back following a sector hiatus due to supply chain disruption,” explained Elaine O’Connell, Vice President Design & Hospitality of dmg events, which organises INDEX. “With Italy accounting for 40% of the world’s luxury furnishings market, it’s no surprise that it has identified the region for a major sales push. The regional market is also benefitting from a massive rise in real estate development, private property ownership, and a local desire for high-end furnishings.”
Among the Italian exhibitors is Palazzo Morelli, whose fit-out of a Villa in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island was shortlisted as a finalist in the 2022 Society of British & International Design Awards. “The villa features modern and contemporary elements for a perfect balance of touches of Middle East with glamour,” explained Alessandro Ortenzi, Founder Palazzo Morelli. “Our team handled the entire interior fit-out and delivered bespoke Made in Italy marble surfaces, loose furniture, joinery works, and custom-designed décor items.”
At INDEX 2023, Palazzo Morelli will launch exquisite new surfaces in different materials. For sure, “Python” will catch everybody’s eyes with its glossy enamels recreating the skin pattern of the animal. The surface is ideal both for flooring and covering of eccentric environments. Palazzo Morelli is particularly renowned for its ability in marble works and the “Falling Stars” is yet another demonstration of this. An incredible Carrara Marble surface with millings where golden falling stars are inserted.
Exhibitor, Chattels & More is a contemporary furniture brand featuring modern home furnishings, home décor, and interior design solutions and will bring fresh innovations to INDEX this year.
“The design community is vast,” said Adrian Shaw, CEO of Chattels & More, KARE and OFIS.INDEX plays a great role in bringing these creative professionals together. We are looking forward to networking with like-minded partners and developing the recently launched B2B segment of Chattels & More. We are also keen to meet potential investors to help expand our business from the GCC and Asia to a global level. INDEX is the biggest known interior design exhibition in the region, and we think it is a good platform to showcase the specially curated offerings of a well-loved brand.”
Index Dubai 2023 will also debut a new product section – Stones and Surfaces – which has attracted some of the industry’s biggest names including Standard Carpet, Berger Paints, Floorworld, Abu Dhabi National Carpet Factory and the Elite Stone Group.
“With the upsurge in real estate development throughout the Middle underpinned by higher oil prices and resolute economic growth, this new INDEX segment is expected to perform well,” explained O’Connell. “Analysts put the total value of real estate projects planned or underway in the GCC alone at US$1.36 trillion, which holds out enormous potential for exhibitors across the entire interiors sector, and INDEX will be the gateway to these opportunities.”
