Innovative inflatables can still rule in the age of Virtual Reality

DEAL 2018 set to provide a strong platform for the inflatables market in the MENA region

Dubai, September 24, 2017; Inflatables have been a part of the industry for a very long time. These versatile products have found utility in numerous functions – from entertainment, parades, toys and advertisement avenues. Even though technological breakthroughs have drastically changed the landscape, inflatables have still held their ground against the odds. DEAL Middle East, the largest theme park related show outside of the US, would showcase the top of the line products in the inflatables category and provide the ideal setup to give a boost in MENA sales for companies from around the world dealing with inflatables.

The inflatables toys have been more or less dependent on the amusement park industry. The growth of the inflatable toys is promising as the amusement park industry in the region is growing. The theme park revenue growth in the UAE is set to increase by 78 per cent to US$837 million by 2019 as per reports.

Speaking about the inflatables industry, Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, Chairman, Internation Expo Consults LLC (IEC), the organisers of the DEAL show stated, “Inflatables have been an integral part of the entertainment business, especially the rental industry. What once was the preferred choice of entertainment for any event, has to compete with many other technologically advance alternatives. But still, they are still present in events of any size – be it personal in nature like a birthday party or a community event which attracts visitors from many localities”.

Foraying into the 24th edition, DEAL 2018 expects to witness an even larger gathering of key players from within the inflatables industry from across the Middle East, Africa, US, Mediterranean and Asian countries.

“Facing stiff competition for alternatives, the inflatables had to reinvent themselves. Nowadays they are not only restricted to bouncy castles but complex structures such as obstacle courses and other games, which target not just children but adults as well. Recently the local industry witnessed a revival of sorts with the launch of Dubai Aqua Park, the world’s largest inflatable waterpark. The popular attraction located right off the beach in Jumeirah Beach Road in Dubai, draws in children and adults alike, to race around the 77 meters long track packed with slides, swings, blockades, bumps and even monkey bars,” added Falaknaz.

Talking about the DEAL Middle East show, Sharif Rahman, CEO, IEC commented, “The recent developments and the future commitments of the new entrants in to Dubai’s entertainment and leisure industry portray a promising future.  The growth of the industry has spurred the success of shows such as DEAL and this, in turn, promotes business opportunities for allied industries like the inflatables”.

DEAL has shaped the region’s entertainment industry for the last 23 years and it has brought together world-class innovations all under one umbrella. DEAL has led the amusement and entertainment space during this period and the testimony to this is the fact that exhibitors at DEAL last year had signed multi-million dollar contracts in just 3 days.

The show, since its inception in 1995 has developed into an unparalleled platform that gathers exhibitors, buyers, and professionals from the international amusement and entertainment industry. The exhibition is the region's most anticipated and leading attraction for global and local stakeholders in the amusement and entertainment industries. The show is slated to be held from 9th to 11th April 2018 at Hall 1 and Za’abeel Halls 1, 2, 3 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.