Industry fair will highlight the growing role of leisure in retailing

Dubai, UAE, March 16th, 2015: The latest edition of the Dubai Entertainment Amusement and Leisure Show (DEAL 2015) will showcase the soaring ambitions and prospects in the region's retailing and entertainment sectors. One of the largest events in the entertainment industry, the show will be held from April 14th to 16th at the Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together all stakeholders in the amusement and related industries worldwide.

As per industry estimates the GCC retail sector will reach AED 811 billion ($221 billion) in 2015 and by 2017, the amusement industry alone is set to cross AED 118 billion. The Middle East will add one million square metre of retail space by 2017 and Dubai will lead this retail upsurge with the 'Mall of the World' development, set to be the world's largest mall and capable of hosting 180 million visitors per year. The 418,000 sq. mt. 'Nakheel Mall' opening in 2016 (Dubai) will be another remarkable addition while Doha is on course to open the 400,000 sq. mt. 'Mall of Qatar' in 2015 and  the 250,000 'Doha Festival City' in 2016. Cairo will have a 'super regional mall' when the 162,500 sq. mt. 'Mall of Egypt' opens in 2015.

With the region's retailing witnessing unprecedented growth and entertainment areas emerging as an integral component of malls and parks DEAL 2015 has generated remarkable interest among  manufacturers, suppliers, buyers, technologists, professionals and investors in the amusement industry. Leading international exhibitors see the show as a remarkable opportunity to grow and expand in the fast-growing markets in around the Middle East.

 "The GCC retail sector and particularly Dubai stands at a unique threshold with a combination of factors set to drive growth into the future. New retail space and entertainment centres are being developed across the region as families and increasing tourist traffic increasingly prefer to spend time in malls and indoor theme parks. Growing population and evolving lifestyles as well as rising disposable incomes and increasing market competitiveness in the region are revealing of a larger role for family entertainment," commented Mr. Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, Chairman of IEC, the organisers of DEAL 2015.

"A key attraction and differentiator in the region's increasingly competitive entertainment space in the region will be technology and innovation. DEAL 2015 has attracted leading innovators and technology providers in leisure and entertainment to Dubai from where they can address a wider market of over two billion people, and an ever-expanding domestic tourism market," Mr. Falaknaz said referring to Dubai's tourism vision, which aims to attract 20 million tourists a year by 2020 when the city hosts the World Expo.

"An extensive leisure component covering entertainment centres, theme parks and multiplex movie houses are a common factor in all the ongoing retail developments in the region. Lifestyles, weather conditions, and the 'fun for all' concept successfully rolled out by leading retailers across the region have made Family Entertainment Centres (FEC) an inevitable element of any existing or upcoming mall. Dubai has shown the way in integrating malls with the metro thereby enhancing ease of access and attracting families and youngsters to retail and entertainment hubs," said Mr. Sharif Rahman, CEO, IEC.

The DEAL 2015 show will have exhibitors from countries diverse as Belgium, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, UK, France, Turkey, and USA, apart from several new countries that come to our show each year. Last year, the show witnessed a huge gathering of stakeholders within the amusement and entertainment sector with 32 new exhibitors and several new countries.

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 20 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 www.dealmiddleeastshow.com.

For further information please contact:
Prem A. Ramachandran
Managing Director
White Water Public Relations
GSM:0097150-4537253
PO. Box 18936, Dubai, UAE
Email: prem@whitewaterpr.com      
Website: www.whitewaterpr.com

© Press Release 2015