Even as the Middle East is increasingly becoming a booming market for car modifications and customisation, having posted a racy 15% growth rate last year, it still is largely unregulated. Hence the need of the hour is for greater coordination among the authorities in the region in order to regulate the industry and set permissible limits for modification for both on-road and off-road vehicles.

This point was stressed by Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of the RTA's Li-censing Agency in Dubai, who made a call for region-wide legislation to enforce standards of safety in the industry. Stressing the need for greater oversight of modification workshops and facilities, Bahrozyan stated that the ultimate aim was to ensure that all modification and customisation operations in the region takes place under safe and verifiable conditions.

The need for greater coordination and regulation will also be in focus at the inaugural GCC Car Modification Conference, an event launched to draw attention to the key issues and grey areas affecting the development of the bustling regional car modification and custom-isation market.

Organised by Epoc Messe Frankfurt, the two-day summit which will be held in Dubai on November 24 and 25 at xxxx, will feature a high-powered panel of leading industry experts and representatives from standardisation authorities across the region. The launch event has also bagged the support and cooperation from the RTA and the ATCUAE.

Bahrozyan will be delivering the Keynote Address at the Conference titled: ‘Taking a Step Ahead - Successfully Launching Standards for Car Modifications’. Other speakers over the two days include: Simon Labbett, Director of Transport Research Laboratory; Harald Schmidtke, Managing Director at VDAT, and Mohamed Ben Sulayem, ATCUAE President, FIA Vice President and 14-times Middle East Rally Champion.

"The GCC Car Modifications Conference is being launched to draw attention to the vital need for greater regulation and enhanced safety standards in what is, a rapidly growing market," said Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Epoc Messe Frankfurt. "Through the conference we aim to encourage discussions and interactions between all the key stake-holders in the industry, so that they can take the necessary actions to ensure a well-regulated sector in the future."

The conference will set the stage for thought provoking debates, informative presentations and several hours of vital networking in order to enhance participants'knowledge and share experiences on the subject. The event will examine the regulations in place from the relevant governing bodies, safety considerations to be kept in mind, while addressing other important issues such as certification, code of practice and testing.

A wide variety of industry professionals and government representives from across the industry are expected to attend the conference including: law enforcement personnel, standardisation authorities, representatives from international and regional associations and road authorities from across the region.