(MENAFN) A study by the Pan Arab Research Centre (Parc), advertising spending in the UAE surpassed the $1 billion mark for the first time to reach $1.06 billion, compared to $869 million in 2005, Khaleej Times reported.
The study said that communication and public utilities accounted for the largest percentage of ad spend.
According to the study, the UAE topped the GCC and near region for advertising spend with a raise of 22 pe cent in the 12 months to December. Saudi Arabia was the second most lucrative market for advertisers, followed by Egypt.
The top three spenders on advertising in the UAE last year were: web portal, Watani-UAE, with an outlay of $14.6 million; Emaar which spent $9.2 million; and etisalat with expenditure of $8.8 million.
The study showed that newspapers accounted for a 66 percent slice of advertising expenditure, accounting for $701 million, a 33 per cent rise on 2005. Magazines received 16 per cent of advertising revenue or $175 million, a 17 per cent increase on 2005. Outdoor advertising, including exhibitions and screen displays, rose by 13 per cent over the year to $47 million, a 5 per cent share of total advertising expenditure.
Across the GCC, Levant and Egypt, advertising spend was up 24 per cent in 2006 to $6.7 billion, from $5.4 billion in 2005. And since 2004, advertising spend in the region has increased 45 per cent.
