18 March 2017
Apple, Huawei, LG, Samsung, Sony lead the way as retail extravaganza prepares to open its doors to thousands of visitors in Dubai

Global smartphone revenues continue to grow; 97% of UAE users reliant on WhatsApp for communication

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Thinner, faster and even more intelligent than we could have imagined, smartphones are back with a bang this year and leading brands are giving customers more for their money than ever before.

Smartphone users are increasingly reliant on their devices and with 97% of UAE residents using WhatsApp[1], power retailers will be capitalising on the need for consumers to stay connected.

As smartphone global revenues are projected to reach US$ 768 Bn in 2017[2], an increase of 75% since 2015, brands and retailers will be out in full force at GITEX Shopper Spring at the end of the month, offering savvy-shoppers the latest range of phones from Apple, Huawei, HTC, Google, Lenovo, LG, Samsung and Sony at unbeatable offers.

Returning to the Dubai World Trade Centre from 29 March to 1 April, GITEX Shopper Spring will be a magnet for shoppers, technology enthusiasts and students alike who will take advantage of the 35,000 products, bundles and competitions available, as well as the latest offerings from leading power retailers E-Max, Jacky’s Electronics, Jumbo Electronics, Plug Ins and Sharaf DG, all under one roof.

C Purushothaman, Head of Marketing, IT and Mobile Division at Samsung Gulf Electronics, said: “We are looking forward to being part of the annual GITEX Shopper Spring event once again and we will be providing shoppers with special and exclusive offers.  We will showcase our latest Samsung products and will also be offering unique experience zones for consumers visiting our stand.

“We are constantly building on our heritage of innovation to deliver products to our consumers that offer technology and flexibility to empower our consumers to make memorable experiences. This event is a great platform that provides us with the opportunity to showcase and share our innovation with different audiences. The consumer electronics industry in the UAE is expected to grow year on year, this sheer growth tells us a lot about our consumers. Today, GITEX Shopper Spring will help further drive consumer’s interests towards innovative products.”

Major consumer retailer Jacky’s Electronics will be selling a range of smartphones including the Apple iPhone 7, Huawei Mate 9, HTC U Ultra, Lenovo Moto Z, and the Samsung S7 Edge at the four day show and will be offering customers exclusive bundles worth up to 30% of the phone value when purchased at their stand. 

Mahesh Chotrani, AVP, Jacky’s Electronics said: “Smartphones are constantly developing with screens getting bigger, storage capacity increasing, wireless audio bluetooth headsets being introduced, devices getting smarter, chips and processors becoming faster than ever and the overall user experience improving.

With a number of smartphones grabbing the limelight over the last two years, it is the Chinese brand Huawei which has taken the market by storm, launching an extensive range of Android phones at affordable prices, such as the Huawei Mate 9 and Huawei P9.

Chotrani added: “In our opinion, Huawei’s Mate 9 is the best in the Huawei line-up, boasting an impressively large battery alongside powerful internals, an improved dual-camera setup and a sleek, gorgeous design. The benchmark results were some of the best we've seen, bringing excellent value for money. EMUI 5.0 makes a huge difference to the overall experience too. We are looking forward to seeing its success with our customers at GITEX Shopper Spring along with all of our other electronic items we will be offering.”

A key event in the region for power retailers and brands alike, tech enthusiasts and savvy-shoppers will be spoilt for choice at the spring show, as the world’s leading brands do battle to provide the latest smartphones at affordable prices.

2017 is shaping up to a big year for the smartphone sector, with Apple rumoured to have three new models coming out, the iPhone8, the iPhone8 Plus and the iPhone8. Samsung will also have new headsets, unveiling its next flagship, the Galaxy S8 at the end of March and Nokia will return to the market with its Android-powered phone.

GITEX Shopper Spring 2017 takes place from March 29 to April 1st, open from 11:00am -11:00pm every day. This year, tickets for GITEX Shopper will be priced at AED 25 for all days and are available to buy online at gitexshopperdubai.com and Platinum List, as well as select UAE Exchange outlets. Entry is free for children below the age of five.

For the latest GITEX Shopper information, please visit www.gitexshopperdubai.com, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

-Ends-

© Press Release 2017