With the UAE taking the decision to ban the import and sale of inefficient lighting systems across the country by the end of 2014, there has been a considerable spike in interest in the region by international lighting majors.

As a result, more than 25 leading lighting manufacturers from Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East, will be showcasing a wide range of innovative, energy-efficient lighting systems at Light Middle East 2014's Future Zone. This growth in interest builds on the successful debut of the Zone at last year's exhibition.

The Emirates Standardization and Metrology Authority (ESMA) has banned the import of traditional incandescent light bulbs in the country from July 2014 and plans to entirely eliminate their sale by the end of the year. This move is in line with the government's commitment to further efforts towards green business practices and energy conservation.

The resulting switch to more environmentally-friendly lighting systems such as CFLs and LEDs is expected to save the country around US$ 200 million annually in energy costs and effect a 500 MW reduction in energy consumption.

According to analysts Frost & Sullivan, the GCC market for LEDs is expected to grow at a remarkable CAGR of 25% between 2014 and 2018, even as the countries of the GCC and the wider Middle East follow the UAE's example in pursuing a more energy-efficient future.

“With increasing population and growing infrastructure development, the focus on sustainability is gathering steam and the demand for energy efficient and intelligent lighting products is on the rise," said Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Epoc Messe Frankfurt, organiser of Light Middle East. "The UAE is leading the way in the adoption of sustainable lighting solutions and the rest of the GCC and wider Middle East will follow suit. The Future Zone at Light Middle East gives regional buyers and industry professionals a great opportunity to view up close, some of the latest innovations and products that will shape the lighting industry in the future."

Featured on the Future Zone at Light Middle East 2014 will be leading names such as ACDC, Osram, LG, Debbas, Regiolux and Rovasi.
Austrian lighting leaders Tridonic will showcase its latest range of holistic system solutions that save up to 80% energy. According to their spokesperson, Tridonic has been a successful innovation driver on the lighting market as pioneers of digital lighting control, They are now focusing increasingly on LEDs as the technology of the future, with more than 80% of our current R&D projects devoted to it.

UK company Orangtek will be showcasing their range of outdoor lamps. ""We will be showing our ARIALED range of LED luminaires that have been extremely successful in the UK with 100,000 units sold in last two years," said Nigel Parry of Orangetek. "We believe that we will be able to do equally well in the Middle East too."

Expecting to attract over 250 exhibitors from more than 25 different countries, Light Middle East 2014, which will run from November 3 to 5 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, is the premier exhibition and conference for lighting design and technology across the wider Middle East. The exhibition attracts wide support from industry associations and regional authorities.


The Light Insight Arabia Conference, held on the sidelines of the exhibition, will turn the spotlight on key industry issues and is expected to attract a large number of leading industry experts, thought leaders and regional specialists.

Light Middle East 2014 will also feature the Light Middle East Awards, designed to celebrate excellence in lighting design. The Awards will recognise some of the region’s leading lighting projects and will cover a range of different categories. Nominated entries will be judged by a panel of renowned lighting design experts.