Operators in the Nigerian amusement and entertainment sector are in for a great time as the 2018 edition of the Dubai Entertainment, Amusement and Leisure DEAL promises to be highly rewarding for all stakeholders.
The 23rd Edition of the event will hold at the iconic Dubai World Trade Centre between April 9 and 11 and would witness key players and visitors in the industry from the Middle East, African, Mediterranean, and Asian countries.
Speaking on the expo, organisers of the show, International Expo Consults, IEC, explained that the show aim to provide effective platform for stakeholders within the African region especially as recent developments within the continent have created the necessary demand for operators.
Chief Executive Officer of IEC, Mr. Sharif Rahman said: “Stakeholders in the industry including mall owners, retail operators, consultants and developers in Africa will sure reap immensely from the show. Each year, we see a large representation of African trade visitors who visit the show to understand the on-the-ground industry developments and also strike deals with operators from across the globe. DEAL has been shaping the industry for close to two and a half decades and has made significant inroads while also shaping several markets globally.
“Africa’s population is set to grow to 2.3 billion by 2050. In contrast to the rest of the world, however, its booming population is getting younger. African millennials are changing their consumer spending patterns, from markets to malls, where they can eat, socialise and get entertained at Family Entertainment Centers (FECs) apart from shopping. Also, there have been key amusement parks in Egypt, Nigeria, Tunisia and South Africa which have attracted people around the African region and the concept is fast catching up within the other countries.â€
He added: “The future looks promising for the African amusement and leisure sector which has reported a steady growth on the revenue front. Africa has been growing in terms of tourism and infrastructure as well. Africa will see newer malls in the next couple of years and will be home to several global brands.
The retail industry is taking shape on one hand, and so is the family entertainment industry and they are complementing each other.â€
DEAL has led the entertainment space during this period and the testimony to this is the fact that exhibitors present at the 2017 show were able to sign multi-million dollar contracts in three days. Since inception, the show has developed into an unparalleled platform that gathers exhibitors, buyers, and professionals from the international amusement and entertainment industry.
