The first day at the DEAL show in Dubai welcomed most of its visitors from outside of the United Arab Emirates, mainly from other GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) countries.
The opening ceremony was performed by His Excellency Buti Saeed Al Ghandi, second vice-chairman of the board at the World Trade Centre Authority. Over 300 exhibitors are taking part from 40 countries.
Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, chairman of International Expo-Consults, the organisers, said: “DEAL every year brings innovative concepts from across the globe which includes, VR, arcade games, redemption games and inflatables among others. These concepts are directly proportional to the desires of the end consumers. Our objective primary objective is to provide a solid platform for any company that wants to enter the market or introduce a new product or service relevant to the industry.
"A spectrum of projects, both large and small, are shaping up and will be launched in the next few years; and, that is an important development for us. The demand that we are seeing for the leisure and amusement industry comes from within the GCC and Africa region. With the country's plans to attracting a record number of visitors by 2020, we are certain that the demand will only grow.”
The rapid expansion of the market in Saudi Arabia and the non-stop expansion of mega and community shopping malls, plus the increasing number of tourists, makes the Middle East, he said, a hub for FECs, theme parks and the amusement industry generally. Principal distributors in the region, Amusement Services International and Warehouse of Games were the largest exhibitors, as usual, and there was a large contingent from the Chinese games development industry and for the first time a US pavilion.
DEAL is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and has been joined by the new trade association MENALAC with its very successful conference programme that began on Sunday and continued yesterday.
Pictured: H.E. Buti Saeed Al Ghandi, second vice-chairman of the board at the World Trade Centre Authority, cuts the tape to declare DEAL 2019 open, with International Expo-Consults (the organisers) chairman Abdul Rahman Falaknaz to his right.
