Arab Furniture: Displays of Luxury

By Marina Surruf

Brazil-Arab News Agency

What will probably become the world's largest furniture and decoration accessories trade show will be held this year in Dubai. For those in the industry, be aware there will be even more competition on the horizon.

Very classic and sophisticated, the furniture manufactured in Arab countries is sometimes gold- and silver-plated. Sculpted wood and exuberant design are the main features of chairs, armchairs and tables made in Morocco, Egypt, Syria, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Dubai - Sculpted wood, shiny fabric, dark colors and classic design that attract attention. These are key features of luxury furniture made in the Arab countries. "To the Arabs, furniture is like jewelry. The pieces must be elaborate and attention grabbing," claims interior designer Perla Lichi, who works in partnership with Domain Fine Furniture, a manufacturer of high-end decoration furniture from Kuwait.

Her work can be seen at the stand for the Arab country at Index, the Middle East's biggest trade show for furniture and decoration accessories, which will run until Saturday (11) in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. The luxury of the furniture is such that some pieces are gold- and silver-plated. "The Arabs enjoy a certain drama in their furniture. That is what I try to convey," says Perla.

According to Perla, classic furniture is present in most affluent Arab households. One example is the furniture by Saudi company Hoss, which also manufactures tables, chairs and armchairs in solid wood. "Our furniture has a traditional Islamic design. The wood is finely worked and full of details. The pieces are large, because they are made for spacious houses," claims the company owner, Dhafi Talaq Al Kahtani, who is participating at Index.

The Saudi company imports all of the raw material used in the manufacturing of its furniture. It comes mainly from Indonesia, China and Spain. With an output of approximately 2,000 pieces per month, Hoss exports from 60% to 70% of its production to Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and others. "There are no big furniture manufacturers in Saudi Arabia, but most companies in the country make classic furniture," said Al Kahtani, who has 200 employees.

The Arab furniture exhibited at the trade show attracts buyers' attention from a distance. Adding to the natural exuberance of the furniture, the exhibitors put together large living rooms using their pieces, thus making customers feel as if they were in an ancient palace. In the Egyptian pavilion, for instance, big golden armchairs and pillow-covered sofas can be seen around dark wooden tables.

According to the organizer of the Egyptian pavilion, Hesham Hamdy, the country has 32 companies exhibiting at the trade show. Most are furniture manufacturers, but there are also many companies in the textile industry. "These two industries are among the main exporters in Egypt," he said.

Last year, the Egyptian furniture industry exported US$ 200 million, and is expected to reach US$ 400 million this year. Egypt has approximately 200,000 furniture companies, which employ one million people. According to Hamdy, US$ 2 billion were invested in the industry in 2005.

The major destinations for Egyptian furniture are the United States, Europe and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC - Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait). For the last four years, in an effort to promote Egyptian products, local companies have participated in Furnex, a trade show for furniture that takes place in Cairo. In 2007, the event will be held in June, featuring 200 exhibitors and visitors from over 60 countries.

Another country with a strong presence in the industry is Morocco, where most of the furniture is handmade and full of details. According to the general manager of the Noblissimo company, Nabil Benabdeljalil, the number of furniture manufacturers in the Arab country increases with each new year. "The Moroccan style is thoroughly appreciated," he said.

On the market for four years, Noblissimo makes sofas, beds, night tables, armchairs, closets and mattresses. With a monthly output of 100 to 150 pieces, the company only caters to the local market. "We are interested in exporting, that is why I am here at Index," said Benabdeljalil. The raw material used in Moroccan furniture is also imported, mainly from Brazil, Venezuela and Spain.

According to Benabdeljalil, the main buyers of Moroccan furniture are the Middle Eastern countries. "Arab families are very traditional, they like classic furniture," he said.

Syria: unique feature

Another classic of Arab furniture is the Syrian type, made using the art of marquetry. The Nakhleh Saloon company, for instance, which is also exhibiting at Index, manufactures several pieces using marquetry, such as boxes, tables, armchairs, card tables, frames, closets, beds etc. According to the owner, Nabil Baara, there are only three big companies in the industry in Syria. "It is very laborious and requires qualified workmanship," he claimed.

The marquetry pieces, containing mother-of-pearl, take from one to eight months to make. The company, on the market for 40 years, employs 120 people and exports 65% of its output. Brazil is among Nakhleh's importers, but the major buyer is Russia, which accounts for 40% of the company's exports.

Prices for the pieces exhibited at the stand range from US$ 1,000 for a mid-sized chair, to US$ 10,000 for a three-seat sofa.

A Full-Service Agency

At Smash Hit Displays, we go out of our way to provide you with full service. In addition to our full line of portable trade show exhibits, the highlights of our service includes:
• An in-house graphic design department to serve your needs.
• Tracking software that tracks your orders from beginning to end.
• Partnerships with major trade exhibit manufacturers who have products in stock and can ship quickly.
• Partnerships with nationwide printers to provide you with high-quality printing & graphics.

Display Warranties

At Smash Hit Displays, we test every trade show booth and exhibit we sell to make sure our customers get the best quality products. Our booths and displays are durable and versatile. We offer warranties on all products, ranging from 1-year to lifetime warranties.

Customer Support

If you have any questions, please give us a call! We answer our phones, and can provide quick and easy answers for any questions or concerns you might have.

Contact Smash Hit Displays

Give us a call today at 1.877.215.5355 to talk about trade show displays, exhibits, flooring, and booths. Our knowledgeable customer service staff can help you to plan your next show. You can also send an email to our Sales staff through our "Contact Page," and they will gladly answer your questions about trade show displays and exhibits.

We Serve the U.S. and Ship Worldwide

Smash Hit Displays serves all U.S. cities and every convention center in the United States. We have customers in Seattle, Canada, Puerto Rico, Japan, and throughout the world. We can ship to the location of your event or anywhere you need your products delivered.