Sold out show reflects interest in an industry worth over US$ 3.3 billion

25th December 2006: Sign & Graphics Imaging Middle East, the largest B2B international exhibition dedicated to Signage, Graphic Imaging and Screen Printing in the Middle East is all set to create new industry benchmarks. With 95 percent of the total exhibition area of 13,000 sq m already sold out, the show is all set to break its own record of facilitating business worth US$ 125 million during the 2006 edition of the show. This figure solely represents the deals closed during the show itself.

Confirming this Mr. Abdul Rehman Falaknaz, President, International Expo Consults, "At present Middle East is the most exciting region in the world, both in terms of advertising possibilities and the industry innovations that are becoming a part of the fiercely competitive industry. The fact that the exhibition is a complete sell out with the biggest possible names is in itself an indicator of the interest in the Middle East Signage industry. Obviously, we hope to surpass our own records both in terms of deals closed during the exhibition and the business transacted thereafter. "

Scheduled from February 27- March 1, 2007 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, exhibitors from around the world are vying with each other for a foothold in an exhibition that boasts the presence of global heavy weights like Canon, Vutek USA, Blaze, Hewlett Packard, Flex Europa, Masonlite, Superwide Digital, Sign Trade etc.

International Expo Consults, the organizers of the show have confirmed the participation of over 200 companies. The show will feature various national pavilions, with U.K and Romania debuting in the 9th edition.

Sign & Graphics has gained a reputation for being a launch pad for brands seeking a share of the booming Middle East market as well as markets spread across the Indian subcontinent, CIS countries and Africa. Once again global industry leaders vying to increase their market presence and share will compete with each other to bring in their latest and the most sophisticated innovations.  The 2007 event brings a major preview of the latest in outdoor media.

As an industry bench mark, the exhibition brings together thousands of industry professionals from across the globe, to share products, designs and ideas. In addition to serving as a meeting point for leading international manufacturers, suppliers and the regional buyers, Sign & Graphics attracts industry analysts, key decision makers and consultants interested in assessing the diversification in markets, products and technologies.

Commenting on the show Mr. Mohammed Al Noori, Head of Advertising, Dubai Municipality who have been supporting the show in a major way said, "We are delighted to be a part of Sign & Graphics Middle East 2007. The very fact that global industry leaders like Vutek, Canon, Blaze , HP, Masonlite have increased their participation by seeking greater display  areas,  points to the fact that Dubai has emerged as an important business destination for industry leaders across the world.  

"Dubai Municipality's support to Sign & Graphics Middle East is in line with our vision of making Dubai, the hub of the Middle East advertising industry."    

The business potential of the regional industry is phenomenal. The total advertising spend in the UAE is pegged at a whooping AED 3.31 billion. In 2005 advertisement spend in the UAE's print media rose by 70.43 per cent to reach Dh2.15 billon ($588 million), compared to Dh1.26 billion ($345 million) the previous year, according to Pan Arab Research Centre.

This is about 65 per cent of the total advertisement spend of Dh3.31 billon ($904 million) recorded last year, which is about 42.58 per cent higher compared to the previous year's combined advertisement spend in the country.

In 2003, total advertisement spend in the UAE was $447 million. In comparison, advertisers in the United States last year spent $143.3 billion, up by 3 per cent compared to the previous year's 139.2 per cent, according to International Advertising Association (IAA).

Besides newspapers, print magazines received $136 million or 15 per cent of the total advertisement  spend closely followed by the electronic media and television reached $133 million last year, up by 8.13 per cent from the previous year's $123 million.

The exhibited or the signage media alone represents 8 per cent of Middle East's advertising spend, as $29 million flowed into outdoor advertising. Analysts project further accelerated growth as the region witnesses greater retail boom and increased competition. Projects like the Dubai metro and ambitious road and transport network expansion would further catalyse the growth.

Mr. Abdallah Ghalayini, Middle East & Africa Sales Director of VUTEK, one of the largest manufacturers of large format printers said, "Sign & Graphic Imaging is a platform for us to achieve almost 50% of all of our Middle East sales targets. This is one show that we cannot afford to miss in this region. With regards to Dubai and the GCC countries, we are amazed at the growth of the industry in the last two years."

The fact that the region as a whole is in the throes of economic diversification with a myriad of activities targeted at leisure, tourism, sports events, entertainment etc, would  go on to make business prospects all the more alluring.

Sign & Graphic Imaging Middle East is one show that reflects everything of interest and importance in the regional signage and advertising industry. Therefore, not surprisingly, the event attracts global industry representatives, both as exhibitors and visitors. The presence of 300 international exhibitors from 30 countries and about 10,000 trade visitors from more than 84 countries in the 2006 event go a long way to show the international stature of the event.

-Ends-

Editor's Note & Media Contacts
International Expo-Consults L.L.C. is an internationally recognised and professionally headed trade show management company with an impressive track record of over a decade in the Asia -Pacific region.

IEC is the specialist exhibition arm of the Dubai based Falak Holding - leading Middle East corporate group with international aspirations. Worth over US $5 billion, Falak Holding is a major stakeholder and investor in the gargantuan Sports City - the most ambitious sports project till date in the entire world. Converging diverse business interests across a spectrum of industries, Falak Holding  has been instrumental in infusing new business synergies in the entire Middle East region, particularly, Dubai.

IEC excels at creating high profile, highly focused business exhibitions and expositions, which serve as highly effective business interfaces for buyers and suppliers from around the world. With a highly impressive track record in exhibition management, spanning well over a decade, IEC has emerged as a specialist in trade show management in the entire Middle East and the North Africa.

IEC's growing tradeshow portfolio serves a diverse range of industries spanning the Amusement, Automotive Aftermarket, Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Leisure, Sports, Signage & Graphic Imaging, and Franchising. Many of these trade shows have evolved into powerful brands that consistently attract the biggest and the best names in their respective industry.

For Further Information Contact
Shazia T. Kamili
Ikon Advertising & Marketing - FZ LLC
Dubai Media City
Mobile: 7264392
Tel( 0):00971 50 3913351
Email:shazia@ikonme.com

© Press Release 2006