The billions of dollars worth of mega projects announced recently in the Dubai will provide a major fillip for the regional metal working and steel fabrication sectors.
This is the view of Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, director-general of the Expo Centre Sharjah, which will host SteelFab from 14 to 17 January 2013.
“Before 2008, regional steel fabrication was driven heavily by the construction industry,” said Al Midfa. Thereafter the major drivers were infrastructure, oil and gas, manufacturing and rail projects.
“Now, with the return of mega projects, we are going to see good demand from the construction sector once again.”
Recent mega-project announcements include Mohammed Bin Rashid City, which will comprise 100 hotels, the world’s biggest shopping mall and a Universal Studios theme park.
Other mega projects are the $2,7bn theme park development at Jebel Ali, a $1bn replica of the Taj Mahal and the extension of the Business Bay Canal.
Al Midfa pointed out that the UAE ranks as the world’s 14th largest importer of steel products. SteelFab will host 200 direct exhibitors from 24 countries, with 600 international brands for steel machinery, welding equipment and surface preparation, covering 16,000m2 of exhibition space.