Gulf News web editor Adam Flinter roams around the giant GITEX and GULFCOMMS technology fairs to bring you the real story.
Shaikh Zayed Road?
Now Gitex is a busy event, we can all see that. It's also being held near Shaikh Zayed Road. But the similarities don't end there. The number of people rushing around, bumping into people or refusing to yield in the narrower parts of the hall are quite staggering. It leaves you feeling like you've just spent an hour in traffic.
Hitting the target (audience)?
Full marks to the people at BEA who win the “we're having most fun at a boring trade fair'' award for their innovative way of pulling people to their stand. The crowd which eagerly gathered round were of course enthralled by the precision and skill on display…in the laser guided shooting competition which was going on. Second prize goes to Canon, purely for getting people in suits to swish their feet around in a circular motion while playing their car racing game.
Paper Bags at dawn:
Competition for corporate bags is fierce at Gitex, with armies of models and staff alike ready to pounce at any given moment. The strangest trinkets on offer so far have come from a paper manufacturer who are giving away...erm…paper. You'd have thought such a mundane accessory would not ignite the passions of the discerning expo goer. Wrong! There have been so many people trundling a few boxes of free paper around the halls, the place has resembled Dubai Airport at times.
Sony:
A special mention to the Sony guys and girls, who are in second place to the Touchmate girls. Those silver foil jackets which look like they belong in a 1980s Michael Jackson video are a sight to behold.
