Bargains and freebies lined up for Gitex

The event, bringing together the region’s power retailers and the world’s biggest electronic brands, is expected to attract more than 210,000 visitors.

More than 100 leading consumer IT and electronics brands will be represented this year, with more than 35,000 products on show.

“With the UAE’s consumer electronics market forecast to reach Dh16 billion by next year, Gitex Shopper remains a critical platform for the region’s consumer electronics industry. Every year the exhibitors become even more competitive in their offers, making sure new products are launched at show and planning deals, promotions and competitions to excite consumers and attract hundreds of thousands of visitors,” said Trixie Loh Mirmand, senior vice-president, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

 Neelesh Bhatnagar, CEO of Emax, said that the Shopper has gained so much traction over the years that it has become the much anticipated tech bonanza in the region.

“We are expecting a heavy tourist influx [at] this Shopper as it coincides with the Eid Al Adha holidays, which would mean an opportunity to showcase our deals across a different base of consumers, increase sales and expecting an overall positive outcome to the event,” he said.

They know that this is the one occasion “not to be missed” to benefit from the outstanding offers and promotions. Just as it creates value for consumers, Shopper is very important for retailers as it is a “major sales driver,” he said.

Strong sales of smartphones, tablets, laptops and TVs — traditional Shopper favourites — have positioned the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) alongside China and South America among the territorial contenders to overtake North America as the world’s dominant consumer technology market, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.

The Shopper is the perfect place to find the latest technology products at the best possible prices, and the exhibitors are planning hundreds of deals, new product launches and prizes that beat anything else available on the market.

With discounts and deals going up to 50 per cent of the product value, many retailers are offering attractive bundle deals and offers.

Emax is eyeing 25 per cent growth compared to last year.

“Traditional favourites like smartphones and tablets will continue to fuel demand. Laptops and notebooks will find less traction. TVs will see growth in the high end technologies as consumers veer towards bigger sizes and newer technologies,” said Niranjan Gidwani, Deputy CEO of Eros Group.   Gulf News