The Bahrain International Property Exhibition (Bipex 2008) attracted more than 13,500 visitors with real estate sector assets worth around $50 billion, it was announced on Monday.

The three-day event, which closed on Saturday, has further consolidated its position as not only Bahrain's premier international property exhibition but also as one of the largest property exhibitions in the GCC, said organising committee chairman Mohammed Khalil Alsayed, said a report in our sister publication, the Gulf Daily News.

'One notable point is that the organiser, Bahrain Society of Engineers, is a non-profit society compared to other purely commercially-oriented property events,' he said.

'The overwhelming response received for the interactive technical session, another first for Bahrain and Bipex, was a distinguishing feature of the event.

'The technical session which brought together industry representatives and players on one platform, face-to-face with the public, provided a lively interface and also shed light on the property market in the region and Bahrain.

'Having successfully staged Bipex 2008, we are upbeat about next year's event with several exhibitors already having keen interest well in advance.

'This year's success has strengthened our resolve to host Bipex 2009 on a bigger scale.'

It attracted 98 participants from the UK, Portugal, India, the Philippines, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, in addition to those from Bahrain, compared to 70 last year.

It also increased its exhibition area to 8,700 sq m, from last year's 6,000 sq m, to cater to the growing demand from exhibitors and participants.

The exhibition, which is in its fifth year, was supported by the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry and held under the patronage of Premier's Court Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa. - TradeArabia News Service