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Business / Qatar Business

Impressive line-up of speakers for INDEX Qatar exhibition

Published: 09 Nov 2017 - 12:00 am | Last Updated: 02 Nov 2021 - 01:06 am

The Peninsula

The line-up for this month’s speaker conference at Doha’s biggest new design event INDEX Qatar has been revealed – and it promises to touch on every aspect of what is fast becoming one of the country’s most influential industries.
Taking place in Qatar for the first time in its 28-year history, the INDEX show will unite thousands of local and international designers in the capital for three-days of product exhibiting, networking and business and trend-focused conversation, November 13-15.
And today – with a week to go until the design festival gets underway – organisers have revealed some of the big name local designers set to take part in the exhibition’s seminar and discussion sessions, known as the INDEX Design Talks.
The speakers of the latest edition of INDEX Qatar include Shahd ElMahdi, Interior Design Manager at ASTAD Project Management; Amr Metwally, Head of Architecture at the Hamad Medical Corporation; Peter Cook, Managing Director of the British Chamber of Commerce in Qatar; and Esra Al-Kazem Design Director, AEA Designs.
They will be joined on the panel by designers, architects, CEOs and directors from the likes of Atelier Ten, the Arab Engineering Bureau, LACASA Architects & Engineers and Sabban Interiors, with more than 15 talks scheduled across the duration of the event.
Jaafar Shubber, event director at INDEX Qatar, said: “The enthusiasm of our speakers to be involved in our Design Talks speaks volumes about how truly exciting Qatar is as a booming hub of architecture and interior design at this moment in time.
“We have gathered a select pool of the region’s prime creative and business minds, all of whom are lead figures across the residential, hospitality, commercial, retail, educational and medical design markets. Discussions will range from sector market analysis, to import and exporting processes, sustainability and trends, providing local designers, buyers, manufacturers, project managers and distributers an invaluable knowledge resource and networking platform.”
Jon Sealey, who will be partaking in the talks on behalf of the Arab Engineering Bureau, said: “Interior design is not slowing down at all in Qatar. At AEB, the projects are getting larger and more prestigious. We have been taking on work in all sectors from large scale mixed use interiors to small restaurants. The industry is very healthy and exciting.
“I feel it’s a perfect time for INDEX to be hosting an event and the talks at the upcoming INDEX event are sure to be very insightful.”
INDEX Qatar – which is backed by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and free to attend by pre-registering online – will host more than 50 international exhibitors showcasing a wide range of furniture, furnishings and décor.
It is expected to welcome more than 3,000 people across its three days at the Doha Exhibition Convention Center, and promises an engaging, interactive design experience for all attending.
The renowned INDEX brand – which has grown to host exhibitions across the Middle East and Asia in recent years – is coming to Qatar at a time of massive growth for architecture and design.
With a weekly spend of more than $500m being put into infrastructure projects ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the local interiors and fit-out market – according to market analysts Ventures – has surged to a value of almost $3bn-a-year.