Under the patronage of His Highness (H.H.) Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports, Dawood Abdul Rahman Abdullah Al Hajiri, Director General, Dubai Municipality and HE Thomas Kufen, the Lord Mayor of the city of Essen, led today’s (Monday, October 1, 2018) inauguration of the 13th Edition of Middle East’s leading horticultural fair, the International Plants Expo Middle East (IPM DUBAI) 2018, which will take place until Wednesday, October 3, at the Dubai World Trade Centre. This event is being held in conjunction with the International Perishables Expo Middle East (WOP DUBAI) 2018, the leading platform for fresh produce in the Middle East.

WOP DUBAI and IPM DUBAI 2018 welcomed participants from 40 countries including 12 official country pavilions throughout the three-day event, and is hosting a total of 213 local, regional and international exhibitors.

Tarek Sibai, Show Director, planetfair LLC, said: “The floriculture and horticulture development in the Middle East continues to attract the global industry and today’s opening of the IPM DUBAI 2018 draws once again the participation of leading providers in the industry looking to capitalize on the opportunities especially in markets that increasingly focus on greening more spaces. Dubai’s hosting of the Expo 2020 where building of a more sustainable and healthier environment has become on top of the agenda for many community developers and organizations. The demand for horticultural products and technologies remain high in the region and we are confident that the coming three days will set new business records.”

The event is also addressing the steady rise in interest within the Middle East’s built environment sector to create sustainable and healthy urban communities, which has led to the increase in demand for horticulture products and green house technologies. In addition, Dubai’s advanced transport and logistics infrastructure has paved for the emirate’s phenomenal trade growth and continues to provide export and import opportunities for the sector. IPM DUBAI 2018 is hosting seminars and workshops on leading trends and practices in horticulture as well as tours to key production and distribution facilities in the UAE.

The event is also showcasing a range of highly efficient and low-cost greenhouse technologies which make it feasible for enthusiasts in the region to set up their own propagation and make a profitable business. The growing interest in farming in the UAE, with more than 35,000 farms and continuously increasing interest in organic agriculture supported by innovations in water technologies, also provides for new areas of growth in the sector.

Visitors can also expect a one-of-a-kind floral presentation by the German Florists Association (FDF) and Floranow through two days of free to attend workshops. German floral designers are showcasing luxury floral wedding designs that would make any wedding celebration a truly memorable one.

As in the past, IPM DUBAI is being held simultaneously with WOP DUBAI. Visitors of WOP DUBAI 2018 can expect to witness innovative offerings that cater to the fruit and vegetable sectors from over 80 countries seeking to serve the region’s fresh food sector.

Malaysia is participating at WOP DUBAI for the first time and is hosting a Country Pavilion led by the Ministry of Agriculture and agro-based Industry Malaysia. The Malaysia Pavilion is showcasing the country’s wide range of agricultural goods and services, in line with its efforts to promote its agricultural transformation and expansive network on agro-based processing and marketing.

The event fittingly addresses the sector’s demand for storage and logistics for these perishable goods and is introducing a new segment in this edition focused on logistics and cold chain business in the Arab Gulf region, opening new growth opportunities for the sector.