Business & Money | Tuesday 10 April, 2018 3:23 am |

DEAL (Dubai Entertainment Amusement & Leisure) 2018 is expected to attract a lot of Saudi Investors looking for opportunities in the entertainment Industry. With recent social reforms in the Kingdom, Saudi Arabia has opened its entertainment industry after many years and has pledged to invest USD 64 billion over the next decade. Many people from around the world will be looking at making the best of this development and DEAL 2018 will provide the most suitable platform for availing the  opportunity. Over the next three days, nearly 315 exhibitors from over 40 countries  will be showcasing their latest and most innovative offerings at DEAL 2018.

The largest amusement and entertainment show in the Middle East – DEAL was officially inaugurated by H. E. Buti Saeed Al Ghandi, Second Vice-Chairman of the Board, Dubai World Trade Centre Authority. For the 24th consecutive year DEAL would showcase the best products and services in terms of technology and innovation that the industry has to present from all over the world. IEC, the show organiser, is a subsidiary of Falak Holding, UAE’s multi-faceted business conglomerate. The show is expected to attract thousands of trade visitors over till the end of the show on 11th April 2018. The current edition of DEAL is being held at Hall 1 & Za'abeel Halls 1, 2, 3 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

According to Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, Chairman of International Expo-Consults LLC, “DEAL is the most anticipated show in the region for the entertainment and leisure industry. For the past 23 years we have been trying to grow the industry from scratch.  Two decades later, DEAL is the most effective platform for any company that wants to enter the market or introduce a new product or service relevant to the industry. It is the best place to network, learn from the industry leaders, research the competition and meet your customers and suppliers. DEAL doesn’t just boast of pulling in exhibitors from around the world but the visitors as well. In the next 3 days thousands of visitors are expected to attend the exhibition from around the world to learn the best kept secrets of the industry”.

The tourism industry is flourishing in Dubai, to the fact that tourism has had a significant contribution to the UAE’s GDP. In 2016 the total contribution of the travel and tourism sector to the UAE’s GDP was AED 159.1 billion (USD 43.3 billion) which translates to 12.1 %of GDP. The figures are expected to rise by 4.9% annually to AED 264.5 billion (USD 72 billion) by 2027. Part of the industry are the themeparks and the family entertainment centres which has witnessed significant growth in the past year. Warner Bros Abu Dhbai is scheduled to launch in the summer this year. Earlier this year also witnessed the launch of a fully fledged VR park in Dubai mall. With Expo 2020 lined up in the near future the region will witness development to cater to the 25 million visitors expected to attend the mega event.

Sharif Rahman, Chief Executive Officer, International Expo-Consults LLC, said, “We are at a very exciting time for the entertainment industry in the middle east. There are a lot of factors promoting growth of the industry not just in the UAE but the rest of the region as well. For example Saudi Arabia opened up its entertainment sector as part of social reforms the kingdom is undergoing. The region is undergoing a transformation and as a result a lot of growth is expected to result fom all the changes. DEAL 2018 therefore is therefore highly significant in helping the entertainment and leisure industry in the MENA region to expand and register growth.”

DEAL 2018 has attracted nearly 30% new exhibitors from around the world. These first time DEAL debutants include Valley-Dynamo from USA, Ice-World International from Netherlands, CLCorporation from France, Kynoa SA from Switzerland, Dein Interdecor SA from Spain, Prologic from UAE, Sega Amusements International Ltd from UK, Hysteria Entertainment LLC from UAE, Kilic Lunapark from Turkey among others.

Since its inception in 1995, DEAL has transformed into an unparalleled platform that gathers exhibitors, buyers, and professionals from the international amusement and entertainment industry. DEAL is the region's leading attraction for global and local stakeholders in the amusement and entertainment industries. International Expo Consults (IEC), part of Falak Holding is the driving force behind the 24-year old ‘DEAL show’, which the most anticipated event of the year in the region for exhibitors and visitors in the attractions vertical.