DUBAI April 2008: The 14th edition of the Dubai Entertainment, Amusement & Leisure Show (DEAL 2008), taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre April 20-22, 2008, provided the perfect platform for showcasing some of the world’s most innovative product launches.
The largest show in the event’s 14 year history, DEAL 2008 welcomed some 200 exhibitors from around the world, showcasing the very latest in rides, games and play equipment; water facilities; audiovisual and theatre equipment; and decorations.
“This week has seen some of the most innovative leisure products unveiled to an eager Middle East market. From educational play centres for toddlers to access control systems, DEAL has served up the very best in entertainment and amusement merchandise. What’s more, in keeping with the theme of the event, the show has proved fun and innovative and has no doubt left visitors and exhibitors with lots of talk about in the months ahead, ” said Abdul Rehman Falaknaz, President of show organisers International Expo Consults (IEC).
Comfy Edutainment Centers introduced the first ever educational play centre solely for toddlers to the Middle East market
From exciting activities like experimenting with music and sounds, opening doors to reveal hidden surprises, matching well-known Comfy characters to their shadows and exploring their stimulating and colourful surroundings, Comfy’s brand new educational play centre for toddlers is a parent’s dream come true.
Comfy’s unique activity centre is specially designed for toddlers as young as 12 months, and extends to 5 years.
ICE (Innovative Concepts in Entertainment) exhibited three new redemption games at DEAL. These are: Deal or No Deal (exciting redemption game, based on the TV game show), NFL 2 Minute Drill (interactive ball toss) and 3 Across (new style alley roller with super bonus game).
“We have exhibited at DEAL since the first year, and are always very pleased with the quality of the show and results. We believe from past history and new developments, that the Middle East will continue to grow, and be even more a significant part of sales each year, ” said Gene Brogowski, Director of International Sales, ICE.
OmniTicket showcased the very latest version of its admissions ticketing and access control system, which is used by many of the world’s top visitor attractions. This has many important new features which are crucial to the visitor attraction in terms of speed, security, marketing and financial data.
“We decided to exhibit at DEAL because the emerging visitor attraction market in the Middle East is very important to our company. We see the market continuing to develop very quickly in the Middle East and look forward to enjoying a high degree of success here, ” said John Davies, Director of UK Operations, OmniTicket Network Ltd.
Rainbow Productions, a London-based company which is widely regarded as the European leader in the creation of costume characters and bespoke live events featuring puppets and costume characters, unveiled its two new characters, Delmo and Delma, created for the Lost Paradise of Dilmun Water Park, the Middle East’s newest, largest water park which opened in Bahrain at the start of September 2007.
Delmo and Delma are the park’s mascots who entertain and greet visitors to this unique leisure and family entertainment destination.
Also splashing onto the aquatic scene was the massively inspiring Slideplay line by Waterplay. Key features include multiple slide options; play zone variety with dumping buckets, rain showers and interactive controls; sightlines that provide exceptional visibility of children at all times; compliance with ASTM F1487 safety standards; premium materials that stand up to the demands of chlorinated water.
Last year’s DEAL exhibition saw over one million dollars worth of contracts signed during the show. Falaknaz is confident that this record has been beaten once again with DEAL 2008.
“DEAL acts as a barometer to the Middle East’s leisure market. The unprecedented growth of this year’s show, and the sheer volume of business conducted over the past three days and set to continue into the summer, is testament to the huge potential the Middle East’s leisure market offers, ” Abdul Rehman Falaknaz added.
DEAL shows have the support of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), the premier international trade association representing permanently situated amusement facilities and the manufacturers and suppliers that serve them globally.
DEAL is also supported by the Amusement Industry Council of Europe, including Association Fabricantes Y Exp. Maquinas de la Foia de Bunyol, Associazone Nazionale Costruttori Attrezzature, Spettcoli Viaggianti; Amusement & Leisure Equipment Suppliers of the UK; American Amusement Manufacturers Assocation); International Association for the Leisure & Entertainment; India Association of Amusement Parks & Industries; and the World Waterpark Association.
DEAL is organized by International Expo-Consultants LLC (IEC), an internationally recognized trade show management company with an impressive track record of over a decade of operations in the Middle East and Asia Pacific region.
IEC excels at creating high profile, highly focused business exhibitions and expositions, which serve as effective business interfaces for buyers and suppliers from around the world. For more information, visit www.iecdubai.com
Contact: Sarah Campbell
JSC Communications
Email: jsc@cytanet.com.cy
Tel: +357 99 238 452
Tel (UAE): +971 50 469 1229
Fax: +357 2442 2148
