The 5th Middle East Exclusive (MEE) Exhibition 2007, the only event in the region dedicated to luxury and travel retail sector, has evoked tremendous response from buyers and participating exhibitors have expressed their satisfaction at response and sales leads generated at the show.
Being organized under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Department of Civil Aviation, Dubai and Chairman of Emirates Group, the MEE Exhibition 2007 involves over 100 companies from more than 25 countries across the globe.
The three-day exhibition, currently showcasing over 500 brands and products, including top international names and well-known local and regional companies, draws to a close later today at Hall 2 of Dubai World Trade Centre.
Expressing satisfaction at the business leads generated, Mr Manish Parashar, Business Manager of Sharaf DG Duty Free, one of the leading names in electronics retailing, said: “I have seen very qualitative flow of trade visitors including Managing Directors from various companies. I am surprised at the amount of sales enquiries that I have had so far. I have met buyers from the whole of Middle East and Europe, from retail to distribution. This is a highly successful show for us and acts as a ready-reckoner for our kind of business.”
Similar views were conveyed by Engineer Elham Zeadat, General Manager of Bloom Dead Sea Life, which produces high quality range of natural formulas of Dead Sea products from Jordan, said: “MEE is a leading trade show and we were always confident of our success here. The quality of buyers is amazing, though they are primarily trade visitors. I have received leads from many buyers representing duty free businesses. This show is proving to be very successful for us.”
Petra Azar from United Art, which showcases the most unusual jewellery collection in the entire Middle East, said: “We have received very positive enquires and the buyers, mainly from Saudi Arabia, UAE, India and Africa, who have shown real interest in our product. Middle East Exclusive is located in the heart of one of the world’s fastest growing markets and is a focal point for the region and it allows us to meet our customers and potential customers in the market place. I designed the United Heart as a wearable piece of art to symbolize love and unity using invisible magnets – a metaphor for attraction between people.”
Jilly Brain, Director of JAKK Opals and JAKK Jewellery, the Australian specialists in genuine opal pieces, said: “I have already received very promising leads during the first two days of the exhibition. I hope to be back next year, in a prominent way. I should congratulate the organizers for putting up such a wonderful show.”
In his comments, Mr Justin Boutros, Managing Director of Channels Exhibitions, said: “We are thrilled with the response generated at the show. With such strong participation from Europe, Germany and the Indian subcontinent, we are happy that the Middle East Exhibition has become the melting pot for new business opportunities. Being part of Middle East Exclusive enables top brands to have direct one-stop access to retail operators, buyers, and distributors.”
Mohammed Emadur Rahman, Director of Al Haramain Perfumes, said the exhibition provides a great networking opportunity for travel retail trade. “This is our first participation in the exhibition and we expect to get some good business leads here.”
The visitor-flow at the exhibition reflects the potential of luxury travel retail and duty free sector, not just within the traditional Middle East markets such as Dubai, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Qatar, but also the potential of the greater Middle East region, which encompasses Africa and the former CIS countries.
Among the various categories of products on show at the exhibition are high fashion jewellery and accessories, premium cigars, watches, gourmet and fine foods, perfumes, cosmetics, confectionery, and designer luggage items as well as electronics.
