Consumer technology spend set to reach $4.58 million in the UAE by the end of 2016, says BMI

  DUBAI – There are plenty of surprises for consumers across the Middle East once Gitex Shopper 2016 opens on October 1 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), organisers said. The eight-day sales extravaganza promises “exciting new product launches and unbeatable offers” across the technology, communication and entertainment sectors. In addition to being a bargain hunter’s paradise for all things tech, Gitex Shopper serves as a playground of novel entertainment features, competitions, prizes and activities that will keep visitors enthralled and engaged from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day of the show. Millions of dirhams in prizes will be up for grabs this year, and will include a car, dream holidays and cutting-edge tech products given away daily. Demand for the latest consumer electronics, whether for work, home, entertainment or communication, continues to grow in the Middle East. In the UAE alone, spending on consumer electronics is expected to reach $4.58 million by the end of 2016, according to Business Monitor International (BMI) and the country remains one of the leading consumer technology markets in the Middle East and Africa region. The country is rated globally as a key market because of its role as a trading hub serving the GCC and other neighbouring markets. Retailers and distributors in the emirate serve a potential market of almost two billion people, with Gitex Shopper acting as an important additional retail marketplace to reach a wider segment of consumers. “This is a show that contributes considerably to the market, bringing new products to the region, and offering retailers and top brands a shopfront with exceptional footfall,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President at DWTC. Global trends Expected product leaders at Gitex Shopper this year reflect the global trends in consumer electronics, with the handheld devices segment expected to maintain its dominant position, particularly as smartphones continue to increase in capability and features. The audio and video segment is predicted to develop at a rapid pace thanks to the introduction of wireless technology in audio devices, while the demand for innovative connected television sets is expected to be a major driver of the consumer electronics market, both regionally and globally. With the wearable tech market forecast to reach a staggering $56 billion by 2020, fashionable and functional devices such as the Apple watch, Samsung’s Gear Fit2, Fitbit Surge and Garmin’s Vivoactive are likely to be in high demand. And with Virtual Reality quickly becoming an actual reality for all, heads-up displays such as Samsung Gear 360 and Gear VR are making VR hardware both accessible and affordable. Commenting on Samsung’s participation and their new dedicated Virtual Reality Zone, Purushotham, Head of Marketing (Smartphones & Tablets), IT & Mobile Division at Samsung Gulf Electronics, said: “This year we will be showcasing our latest range of smartphones including the Galaxy Note7 and Galaxy S7/S7 edge, as well as ground breaking innovations such as the Gear 360 and the Gear VR. We will have a dedicated virtual reality zone complete with 4D chairs to transport visitors into whole new world of possibilities. We are sure that fitness enthusiasts will find our growing wearables segment, with the recently launched Gear Fit2 and IconX, especially intriguing.” More than 35,000 products will be on offer at the show this year, with global players such as Dell, HP, Huawei, Samsung, Microsoft and more among the many brands showcased. Top regional distributors and retailers, including Emax, Jacky’s, Jumbo, Plug Ins and Sharaf DG, will be enjoying healthy competition with spectacular promotions being created exclusively for Gitex Shopper visitors. Promising incredible offers and surprises during the show, Nadeem Khazadah, Head of OmniChannel Retail at Jumbo Group said: “This year we are expecting a rise in wearables, fitness devices and VR headsets, backed, of course, by high volume sales of smartphones. Our special offers will include multimedia headphones, Bluetooth speakers and large screen televisions, and we’re telling Shoppers to also watch out for a surprise in the VR space.” "We are coming up with some innovative concepts for our visitors this year, something truly special that has never before been done at the show – and that’s only part of what we’ll be offering in terms of best deals, offers and promotions,” said Mahesh Chotrani, Assistant Vice President of Jackys electronics. Mark your calendar What: Gitex Shopper 2016 When: October 1 to 8, 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Where: Dubai World Trade Centre Tickets: Dh30 on weekdays, Dh35 on 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