The highly anticipated Gitex Shopper kicks off today with more than Dh50 million in prizes up for grabs at the new Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
The eight-day electronics extravaganza is expected to draw a crowd of 175,000, rake in more than Dh200 million in sales and serve as a platform for exclusive regional product launches, organisers say.
“Every product segment will include new launches — from computers to cameras to smartphones to headphones and more. In addition, several brands are featuring entertainment and gaming zones to provide an interactive and enjoyable shopping experience to our visitors,” Trixee Loh, Senior Vice President of the DWTC, told Gulf News.
The show will feature 30,000 gadgets in nearly 35,000 square meters of retail space — up 25 per cent from last year. Tablets, ultrabooks and Smart TVs will be the main product attractions at Gitex Shopper this year, she said, adding that several international brands will make their first entry into the Middle East through the show.
Major retailers will try to lure consumers with bundle offers, the latest gadgets and experiencing the products first hand.
The show comes earlier this year and has relocated to its origins at the DWTC, which has promised more space and easier access by metro for the surging crowds.
The new venue is expected to attract visitors from Jumeirah and other Dubai neighbourhoods to this more central location, organisers say. Previously, Gitex Shopper was held at the Airport Expo.
Over 120 brands and retailers from 10 countries will be participating at the event this year, representing 20 per cent growth in participants from 2011, according to Helal Al Merri, chief executive of DWTC.
He expects double digit growth in sales that reached Dh193 million last year and hopes to exceed the Dh200 million during this edition.
The show runs until October 6. It will be a standalone event separate from Gitex Technology that used to run simultaneously.
This year, Shopper’s sister show Gitex technology is slated for two weeks later from October 14 to 18.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will increase the frequency of trains to cater to the surging crowds expected during Gitex Shopper and will run free hourly one-way bus trips from the venue to three malls — Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Deira City Centre.
The World Trade Centre (WTC) station is just a few metres away from the Shaikh Saeed halls at the Dubai World Trade Centre where Gitex Shopper is located this year.
The RTA will increase train frequency from the WTC station, especially during peak hours at the show. “The time between metro trips will be reduced to 3.5 minutes to manage this. Empty trains will be sent to WTC metro station if needed; they will not stop at any station but the WTC to pick up the crowd,” it said in a statement.
The DWTC has promised easier access to the show with more than 6,000 car parking slots in total. There will be a multi-storey car park adjacent to the DWTC, which costs Dh10 per hour. There is also a free open parking space opposite the venue.
“There is no doubt that the spacious new location and facilities at the venue will help enhance visitors’ shopping experience at Gitex Shopper. Not only do we have ample parking space for more than 6,000 vehicles, we also have our own dedicated metro station just metres from the entrance to the show,” said Trixee Loh, Senior Vice President of the DWTC.
There is an outdoor arena with food and beverage outlets offering refreshments to shoppers, she added.
