It has been 15 years since the region’s steel fabrication and metal working industry changed the way how it did business. It’s 15 years ago that SteelFab made its debut! A lot has changed since then, and the event continues to steer the industry through the ups and downs of the economy and the market. Over the years, it has grown with the industry, and along the way, expanded its geographical footprint far and wide.

Key Insights

➤ TOTAL NO. OF DIRECT EXHIBITORS : 291
➤ MAIN EXHIBITORS FROM : 23 countries
➤ NO. OF INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITORS : 168
➤ NO. OF DOMESTIC EXHIBITORS : 123
➤ BRANDS ON DISPLAY : 1,000 (from 43 countries)
➤ SPACE OCCUPIED : All 6 halls
➤ NO. OF TRADE VISITORS : 7,123 (from 81 countries)
➤ CONCURRENT VERTICAL : 3rd Fasteners World Middle East
➤ SPECIAL FOCUS: Welding & Cutting, Machine Tools, Tube & Pipe, Wear Resistance
➤ NATIONAL PAVILIONS : Germany, Italy and Taiwan
➤ OTHER ATTRACTIONS : Seminars, technical presentations & live displays

Changing Landscape

Rising oil prices and a growing regional economy has laid the perfect foundation for the 15th SteelFab 2019. Besides, with the countdown beginning for mega events like World Expo 2020, regional fabricators are expecting the best for the upcoming edition.

The Best In The Business

SteelFab, during its previous edition, once again proved that there is no match to it when it comes to providing the latest technology and industry know-how. Held in January 2018, it featured more than 1,000 brands and attracted close to 7,200 visitors during its four-day run.

What Sets It Apart

•    The only dedicated fair of its kind
•    15 years of delivering unmatched success
•    Consistent growth since launch
•    The largest showcase in the region
•    Visitors from across the globe
•    High sales, bookings & business leads
•    Extensive reach and response 
•    Strong support from industry associations

Strong Tailwinds

Strong macro-economic tailwinds are set to propel the growth of the region’s steel fabrication and metal working industry. Prominent among them is the rise in oil prices, which, coupled with easier fiscal consolidation and tax reforms, will help the UAE, the most diversified economy in the GCC, to register a higher growth of 3.8% in 2018.

These factors are set to drastically boost government revenues, which in turn is encouraging a shift away from its austerity measures. With less than 1,000 days to go for the World Expo 2020, and mega projects like the Dhs 2.4 billion Maryam Island getting launched, a multitude of opportunities are awaiting the regional fabrication sector.

Expo 2020 Not Far Away

Preparations for World Expo 2020 have picked up pace and are generating tremendous opportunities for the fabrication sector. Expo 2020 has awarded two major contracts worth US$ 182 million to Laing O'Rourke to build two pavilions and an access road for Expo 2020. The organisers awarded construction contracts worth nearly US$ 3 billion in 2017 while US$ 111.5 million was allocated for non-construction contracts. In total, 2,745 contracts have been awarded to date.

The Big Numbers

•$2.6 trillion –
the total value of active projects in GCC
•$60.9 bn –
the value of 707 healthcare projects currently under development in the GCC
• $8 bn –
the value of Duqm Refinery project, Oman’s biggest single economic project
• $16 bn –
the value of railway project contracts MENA governments are likely to award in 2018
•$3.89 bn –
development projects under way in Saudi Arabia
•$3.1 bn – 
investment by ADNOC to upgrade its Ruwais refinery
•$180 bn –
investment need by MENA countries to build power generating capacity
•$22.4 m –
investment by UAE's Mubadala in aerospaceresearch and design