Dubai, UAE, May 22, 2017:  His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, this morning officially launched the 27th INDEX Design Series interiors festival and co-located Middle East Stone, now in its third year.

Joined by INDEX event director Samantha Kane-Macdonald, Yan Wang of Middle East Stone, and dmg events design portfolio director Tony Crinion, His Highness launched the four-day exhibitions before being given a guided tour of the show floor, interacting with stand-holders.

He also liaised with firms taking part in Middle East Covering – which focuses on interior and exterior surface solutions – and workspace, dedicated to office furniture and décor.

Between them the shows expect to attract well over 30,000 visitors to more than 1,100 exhibitor stands Monday through Thursday. They also promise a host of knowledge sharing industry-focused talks, seminars and on-site interactive features, with INDEX opening its doors to consumers for the first time in its history on Wednesday night.

Tony Crinion, INDEX event director, said: “All of us across the INDEX Design Series would like to personally thank His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, for opening what promises to be an incredible four-days of business and networking.

“INDEX has an immensely strong 27-year history. Our challenge is to keep that going, and we feel that with all our innovations for 2017 – namely the Design for the Senses show theme and lush green décor – we have a show that will excite, engage and exhibit the very best in global interior design.

“The region’s recent history of infrastructure, hospitality, residential and retail development is once again pushing on. With ambitious national growth set for the Gulf across the next ten to 15 years, being able to source the finest materials and products to help build and furnish these megaprojects is vital for the region’s construction and design leaders. The INDEX Design Series and Middle East Stone are here to meet that requirement.”

The OFIS-sponsored Design Talks at INDEX will welcome big name interior designers Bethan Gray, Henry Holland and Jo Hamilton to both In Conversation and panel discussions. The show floor is also peppered with sense-tingling features, including a Harrods-designed VIP Oasis exclusive distributor Finasi, an INDEX Design Hub and textile and lighting exhibits. Middle East Covering will offer a wide variety of surface solutions for flooring, walls and interior products, while workspace – through the Steelcase-endorsed Active Learning Ecosystem – will demonstrate the future of the office environment.

At Middle East Stone, the Laticrete-sponsored Stone Conference will discuss a wide-range of topics, from global trend perspectives to sustainability and industry challenges. Key exhibitors include MAPEI, Callache, Marmo Classic, Services & Trade Marble, Aseel Marble, Al Emadi, Stone Trade International, Fortune Enterprise, SABTA, Arwani Trading and US Diamond.