The largest trade fair for beauty products, Beautyworld Middle East 2009 and spas 'Wellness and Spas Middle East' kicked off in Dubai on Sunday.

The twin exhibitions were inaugurated by Raja Al Gurg, president of the Dubai UAE Business Women Council, and president of the Federation of the UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Al Gurg was named one of the 'Women to Watch in the Middle East' by Forbes magazine for her pioneering career, and work promoting Arab women in the business world.

The fairs will run till June 9 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

During the three days, trade visitors will source new products and services, identify future trends in the beauty and spas industry, and make and maintain business relationships, said the organisers.

One of the highlights of Beautyworld Middle East this year will be the ‘Walk of Beauty,’ a gathering of the most talented professional hair-dressers and make-up artists from all over the world performing live on stage and providing glamour and style to the event.

It will become all the more colorful with the beautiful models going around the exhibition hall bearing different cosmetics and beauty products by various exhibitors.

Andrea Werner, senior show manager of the Beautyworld Middle East said the Arabian Peninsula has the world’s largest consumer per capita spend on perfumes.

"The perfume market for the premium brands is estimated to be worth Dh991 million ($270 million) in the UAE alone, accounting for over a fourth of the Middle East's Dh3.67 billion ($1 billion) share of the perfume market,” she pointed out.

Being one of the world’s biggest fairs in the beauty and cosmetics industry, Beautyworld Middle East 2009 will be enlivened with Turkish companies.

IKMIB (Istanbul Chemicals and Chemical Products Exporters’ Association) will participate for the fifth time with 39 Turkish companies that will display their products on a total area of 828 sq m in their stall.

Turkish cosmetic manufacturers will present their line of cosmetics and personal care products to international buyers in the trade fair that was visited by 14,352 professional participants in 2008.

Elaine O’Connell, senior show manager of Wellness and Spas Middle East added, “The spa industry is in full expansion with a turn-over of Dh2.3 billion ($631 million) across the region in 2008. Research denotes that the UAE alone accounts for more than 42 per cent of this figure.”

Inspired by the colours, aroma and waters of the Spanish Mediterra-nean, LOVEinSTYLE (LIS) will display its full range of cosmetics at the Wellness and Spas Middle East exhibition.

Made up of oils, gels, natural creams, candles, and bath bars, the products are created in LIS’s own laboratories, with natural ingredients of the highest quality, there products offer a perfect complement for diffusing a harmonious and relaxing aroma.

The first annual “Orchid Beauty Awards” was presented by Elements Beauty Consultancy in association with and hosted by Beautyworld Middle East.

The categories have been carefully se-lected and decided on, to ensure that all beauty establishments in the industry get an opportunity to showcase just who the best is in their particular category. The categories vary from the best spa to beauty salon, men’s grooming salon, nail salon, and hair salon of the year.

Together with Wellness and Spas Middle East, it will showcase over 650 exhibitors from almost 50 countries, representing more than 1,600 brands.-TradeArabia News Service