20th edition of ‘DEAL 2014' – largest amusement and entertainment show in Middle East inaugurated

The show will be held from the 08th to 10th April 2014 at Dubai World Trade Centre

Dubai, UAE, April 08th, 2014: DEAL 2014, the largest amusement and entertainment show in the Middle East was today officially inaugurated by H.E. Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman, Dubai Chamber. The senior management from IEC and other international industry officials were also present during the inauguration of the 20th anniversary edition of the show. IEC, the show organiser, is a subsidiary of Falak Holding, UAE’s multi-faceted business conglomerate.

The 20th edition of DEAL 2014 is the largest show compared to the previous editions as 32 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 10th April 2014 at ‘The Arena’, World Trade Centre, Dubai.

Mr. Abdul Rahman Falaknaz; Chairman of IEC stated that, “We have reached yet another milestone today and this is a momentous occasion for the entire team at IEC as we inaugurated the 20th edition of the show. I would like to thank all our exhibitors and partners who have supported and trusted us throughout this long journey of almost two decades. We grew organically and today it has become one of the largest platforms in the Middle East for entertainment and leisure industry. The show has generated sales amounting to millions of dollars for exhibitors during the last year and we are expecting this year to be another record breaking event. This year’s event is much larger than the earlier editions”.

“Exhibitors are focusing on the Middle East as a new business destination, with most of these participants now even more aggressively exploring means to establish a strong presence within the region. I am confident that our show will provide them with the ideal platform to blend in to the Middle Eastern fabric, “added Mr. Falaknaz.

DEAL 2014 showcases brands from Middle East, Africa, Belgium, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, UK, France, Turkey and USA. DEAL 2014 will also have new exhibitors from Denmark, Qatar and Singapore. The show welcomed some of the amusement industry’s leaders, with regional and global names such as Amusement Services International - UAE, Warehouse of Games- UAE, Zamperla – Italy, IE Park SRL Soli Bumper Cars - Italy, Rainbow Productions – UK, Innovative Concepts in Entertainment (ICE) - US, The United Distributing Company Ltd. – UK, Sanderson Group International – Australia and Polin Waterparks and Pool Systems – Turkey, among other industry majors from across the globe.

“DEAL has been a gateway to most of the biggest projects in this region over the years. We continue our support in bringing the most innovative trends in leisure and entertainment sector by making this region as the World’s best tourism destination,” added Mr. Sharif Rahman, CEO, IEC.

Commenting on DEAL 2014 event, Mr. Silvio Liedtke, COO, Landmark Leisure, a leading buyer of indoor leisure equipment in the region stated; “Family entertainment centres have replaced playgrounds due to climatic conditions of this region.  Hence, new indoor concepts and ideas are launched frequently in this mature market. Many innovations in leisure are most often launched first in the Middle East.  At Landmark Leisure, we have collaborated with our suppliers to develop some novel and first of its kind ideas for our community centric entertainment centres and destination concepts in the region”.

Recent market trends indicate that the steady economic boom in the Middle East market helped the industry to the double-digit growth in the recent years. Current estimates put the region’s attractions, entertainment, and leisure segment with 20-25% yearly growth. The potential growth in the visitors to the region’s entertainment and leisure industry rapidly increased followed by the exciting and incredible theme parks and announcement of upcoming mega projects in the UAE. 

IEC is aiming to boost the region’s theme parks industry through this show and thereby enabling the exhibitors and the consumers capture the potential of this billion dollar industry. According to a report by US based Global Industry Analysts Inc. (GIA) the worldwide market for theme parks is forecast to reach US$31.8 billion by the year 2017. As per the report, growth will primarily be driven by increased consumer per capita spending on entertainment and leisure platforms, and growing base of middle class households, increasing disposable incomes, urbanization in developing countries, and waxing popularity of mass entertainment.