(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The UAE's thriving construction and interiors industry has fuelled the demand for marble, ceramics, and natural stone in the country, experts at the 2017 Middle East Stone exhibition said on Monday.
As developers across the UAE charge ahead towards completing their projects in time for the Expo 2020 event, demand for stone products has surged in both the commercial and residential segments. Middle East Stone welcomed several global leaders from across all stone-based fields to discuss a wide-range of topics including global trend perspectives, sustainability, and industry challenges.
Amongst the pool of international exhibitors were several companies from Brazil, one of the world's biggest stone producers and exporters. The Brazilian industry is thriving due to the unique qualities their natural stone possesses, ranging from classic colours and patterns to strong all-weather resistance.
Jon Lancto, president of the Marble Institute of America, noted that natural stone is today facing competition from engineered products. However, high end users are increasing their use of stone on many of their projects, he said.
"Dubai is a key hub for importing natural stone for regional use and exporting for world use. As a key market, Dubai is important to many suppliers around the world," Lancto added.
His words were echoed by Stefano Iannacone, regional director of Mapei Construction Chemicals, who was at the event to launch the company's Mapestone System, which is a complete solution to obtain durable, long-lasting architectural stone road surfaces resistant in extreme temperatures.
"The demand is not just coming from the big commercial projects across the hospitality and retail segments in Dubai, but also across the residential segment. The increase in population across the UAE has led to an increase in demand for housing, and that in turn has led to an increase in demand for our products. We have been growing steadily over the past few years and aim to continue our growth trajectory in the coming years as well," he said.
In addition, Mapei, which has worked on projects such as the Dubai Opera and Bollywood Parks, was also displaying its new colored grouts. A range that meets every requirement in ceramic tile laying, the colours are divided into five different collections: Serene, Traditional, Natural, Romance, and Glamour. The aim is to make it easier to choose the right grout according to the requirements of each particular project and the personal preferences of each client.
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Rohma Sadaqat I am a reporter and sub-editor on the Business desk at Khaleej Times. I mainly cover and write articles on the UAE's retail, hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors.Originally from Lahore, I have been living in the UAE for more than 20 years. I graduated with a BA in Mass Communication, with a concentration in Journalism, and a double minor in History and International Studies from the American University of Sharjah.If you see me out and about on assignment in Dubai, feel free to stop me, say hello, and we can chat about the latest kitten videos on YouTube.
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