Business & Money | Wednesday 15 April, 2015 12:00 am |

Show will be held from the 14th to 16th April 2015 at the Dubai World Trade Centre

DEAL 2015, the largest amusement and entertainment show in the Middle East was today officially inaugurated by Director-General of Dubai Municipality Hussain Nasser Lootah. The show is poised to set standards for the amusement industry across the region as it brings some of the best kept secrets in the amusement and leisure industry. The senior management from International Expo Consults (IEC) and other international industry officials were also present during the inauguration of the 21st anniversary edition of the show. The amusement and leisure industry is set to touch AED118 billion by 2017 as per the Global Industry Analyst report.
The 21st edition of DEAL is the largest showcase compared to the previous editions as many new exhibitors joined the show. This year, the show welcomed over 300 exhibitors from across 33 countries and is set to attract more than 7000 trade visitors. This three-day event will go on until 16th April 2015 at ‘The Arena’ and ‘Sheikh Saeed Hall 1’, World Trade Centre, Dubai.

“Exhibitors get the chance to debut their new games, meet existing and new customers and discuss new opportunities. DEAL is the only platform in the Middle East for exhibitors in these industries to connect with the buyers. This is an ideal platform for buyers to see and test the latest products and services and for professionals to share best practices and make new contacts. Latest family entertainment centre equipment, video games, redemption games, kiddie rides, prize machines and many other innovative offerings will be unveiled during the show. Visitors get to see and get a feel of the latest state-of-the-art offerings and services showcased by exhibitors from across the globe. Basically the new products launched and offerings in the pipeline which have intrigued the visitors have kept them come back for more,” commented Mr. Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, Chairman of International Expo Consults.

Several upcoming projects in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and the region will trigger a remarkable growth within this sector. As per reports GCC retail sales are expected to grow at a 7.3 per cent CAGR (compounded annual growth rate) between 2013 and 2018 to reach $284.5bn.



Exhibitors at DEAL last year have signed contracts close to a billion dirhams and the show grew by 25 percent as compared to the previous year. These contracts were for all the equipment, rides and other innovative products and projects that would be carried out during the course of the year. This in other words also is a reflection of the growth that the industry has experienced in the Middle East region.

“Consumer preferences are gliding towards adrenalin-pumping rides, interactive games, 9D simulation games, redemption games and high-tech video games among others. Year 2015 looks promising for our industry as most amusement operations have registered a growth in revenue and footfall year on year. We are confident that the amusement industry in the region is heading in the right direction. Family Entertainment Centre’s (FEC) are key service anchors that support the many retail developments within the Middle East. It helps such developments to attract and register family footfall. Consumers can today make their retail purchases from their smart devices. However, the key differentiator that drives people to the brick and mortar retail stores is not just the product but also the integrated ‘leisure and entertainment facilities’ within a mall or any large indoor retail environment,” stated Mr. Sharif Rahman, CEO, International Expo Consults.

The DEAL 2015 show has brought in innovators from various parts of the world such as Belgium, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, UK, France, Turkey, and USA, apart from several countries that come to the show every year. The show witnessed a huge gathering of stakeholders within the amusement and entertainment sector with 63 new exhibitors from several new countries.

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About International Expo-Consults (IEC):
International Expo-Consults LLC (IEC) is an internationally recognized trade show management company with an impressive track record of over 22 years of operations in the Middle East and Asia Pacific region. The Exhibition arm of the Dubai-based conglomerate, the Falak Holding; IEC is the organiser of key exhibitions including Sign and Graphics Imaging (SGI), and the Dubai Entertainment, Amusement and Leisure show (DEAL). Falak Holding has been an industry pioneer for the last 30 years having diversified business interests including real estate development; retail - sports, fashion, home furnishings; exhibitions, medical diagnostics, trading and many more as part of its portfolio. Falak Holding is also a key stakeholder and investor in the prestigious Dubai Sports City project. For more information on DEAL please log on to http://www.dealmiddleeastshow.com.