DUBAI – Advertising expenditure in the UAE has ranked highest, with the total spending estimated at Dh3.32billion among the AGCC region. According to Eng. Mohammed Al Noori, head of advertising at Dubai Municipality the Sign & Graphic Imaging alone has achieved 20 per cent growth which was aided by the construction boom coupled with strong growth in retail sector.
Al Noori spoke to Khaleej Times after the inauguration of the eighth edition of Sign & Graphic Imaging Middle East 2006 at the Dubai World Trade Centre yesterday.
The show was inaugurated by Hussain Lootah, chief executive officer of Dubai Media Incorporated. The show will run till February 8, covering 11,800 square metres over three halls and featuring over 200 companies from across 30 countries .
Al Noori further said: "As one of the largest providers of outdoor advertising in the region, we have realised the importance and advantages of this medium. Dubai municipality is proud to be associated with the world's largest hoarding site. The Sign and Graphic show has helped us envisage the potential of this great media, since we were able to understand and adopt these new technologies into our department to offer exceptional services to the public and corporate companies in Dubai."
According to sources, "The outdoor advertisement sector has grown considerably in the UAE with a turnover of Dh 525 million in 2005 as most of the real estate companies, trade fairs and multinationals boosted the growth of this sector. In 2005 the UAE has surpassed Saudi Arabia in annual advertising spends, with more and more multinational moving regional offices to Dubai and this region it is no surprise that the advertising and signage industry has seen such a growth."
Signage, Outdoor media, Digital/Graphic imaging, large format printing, Media and P05/POP advertising solutions are just some of the sectors on display in the show with emerging technologies and products that are unique to this region.
According to Sharif Rehman, organiser and chief executive officer of International Expo Consults LLC, The Sign & Graphic Imaging show has been growing at a steady pace over the past few years but in the last two years with Dubai emerging as the business capital in this region we have seen a surge of interest by international manufactures and companies to participate and offer their services and products to the growing markets of the Middle East. I would also like to thank the Government of Dubai and Dubai Municipality in particular for being associated with this show."
The show which is the largest of its kind in the region has grown over 25 per cent in size and is expected to attract over 12000 trade visitors from all over the world. With advertising and outdoor media growing at a breakneck pace in this region the show offers innovative and technologically unique solutions for new products and services.
