The interior design and decoration market has been hit by a lack of skilled labor and rising prices of raw materials.

This was the assessment of the industry by Hani bin Nasser, chairman of the Saudi Council of Engineers, at the opening day of the fifth Decoration and Furniture Exhibition on Friday.

The four-day exhibition was organized by Reed Exhibitions Sunidhi with the participation of more than 110 international and local companies.

In his opening address, Nasser said the Saudi market needs engineers to develop the industry and enhance the value of visual art in society.

He said it was important for Saudi Arabia to take advantage of the expertise at technical schools to develop the local industry.

The fair showcased some of the world’s top brands from Italy, Scandinavia, the United States, Germany and the Far East. This included Swiss furniture company Vitra, French designer Kenzo Maison, Danish manufacturer BoConcept, and Italian chair designers Asdi Sedia.

The fair also has a forum for designers to discuss the impact of interior design on public health and improving the morale of consumers.

The forum will provide participants with an opportunity to talk about interior designing, the evolving role of the designer, Islamic architecture, and furniture as an art form.

Talat Abdulrahman, the director of the fair, told Arab News that demand is rising for decorations this year and local businesses can expect to interact with more international companies.

David Wilson, chief executive officer of Reed Exhibitions Sunidhi, said the fair represents the latest fashion in interior décor and furniture design.

More than 20,000 visitors and specialists are expected at the exhibition. Several discussion sessions and seminars with leading figures in the global design industry will take place on the sidelines of the exhibition.