Automechanika Dubai, the largest international trade exhibition for the automotive aftermarket and service industry in the region, will return for a landmark 20th edition next week.
From 2-4 October, the event will span 14 halls at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), showcasing a diverse range of innovative products, services and technologies in front of an international audience. Automechanika Dubai acts as the central trading link for markets that are difficult to reach connecting the wider Middle East, Africa, Asia, and key CIS countries.
Organised by Messe Frankfurt, Automechanika Dubai 2023 will see 1,912 exhibitors from 61 countries and will feature 20 official country pavilions, with visitor numbers expected to exceed 45,000. A premier networking hub for the Middle East’s automotive aftermarket community, the 2023 event will build on the success of last year’s edition, where C-suite professionals and managing directors accounted for 32 percent of visitors to the show.
Sustainability and efficiency will top the agenda at the dedicated Innovation4Mobility zone, exploring alternate fuel vehicles, driving technologies, digitisation, connectivity and smart infrastructure. The opening session will be delivered by Eng. Moza Alnuaimi, Director – Productivity & Demand, UAE Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure and will provide an overview of the UAE’s Vision of Future Mobility on the opening day.
Mahmut Gazi Bilikozen, Portfolio Director at Automechanika Dubai organiser Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said: “The past two decades have seen phenomenal growth in the automotive aftermarket industry and the Middle East automotive market alone is set to reach $704 billion by 2025. Automechanika offers a unique platform for expanding networks within the region and serves as a catalyst for new collaborations, partnerships and market expansion.
“Last year, Automechanika Dubai recorded its largest-ever attendance figures, with predictions for this year set to increase even further. Visitors can look forward to several new additions to the show, including Innovation4Mobility and the Lubricants Technology Conference, both of which underscore our sustainability focus for 2023.”
LUBRICANTS TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE, AUTOMECHANIKA DUBAI AWARDS
Also taking place on October 2 is the Lubricants Technology Conference, located at PitStop 3 in the Trade Centre Arena, and dedicated to exploring how the lubricant additives market can meet its environmental objectives, an issue of particular importance as 2023 has been mandated the ‘Year of Sustainability’ in the UAE.
On day two, one of the highlights will be The Automechanika Dubai Awards, now in its third edition. Celebrating excellence and innovation in the automotive industry, the awards are judged by a panel of highly respected regional and international judges who have shortlisted 30 finalists for this year’s event. Interest has grown significantly this year in the ‘Women in Automotive’ section, and new award categories include ‘Digitalisation Project of the Year’, ‘Digital Product of the Year’, ‘Start-up of the Year’ and a highly-anticipated special recognition award.
On day three, Automechanika Dubai’s popular AfriConnections conference will take place. The platform has been designed to connect African buyers with global suppliers, where, in times of stagnating sales markets and growing legal regulations in saturated markets, the Sub-Saharan region is becoming increasingly attractive for the global automotive industry. The opening session will discuss the future opportunities in the developing African Automotive Aftermarket.