UAE ‘addicted to gadgets’: three-quarters couldn’t live without technology

Dubai: Almost three quarters of the UAE residents could not live without their laptop or smartphone as consumers have become addicted to technology, a new survey by dmg events Middle East revealed.

The findings also highlight that money is no object when it comes to purchasing gadgets, with more than half (53 per cent) of those surveyed admitting to spending up to Dh10,000 a year on technology and a further 15 per cent splurging Dh15,000 annually. What’s more, the UAE is a nation of gamers with one in ten claiming to own an average of three games consoles, while 20 per cent switch between two.

“Our latest research shows just how important having the hottest gadget or latest technology is for UAE residents. What better place to fuel this passion than at The Life & Style Show UAE – the biggest consumer lifestyle show the country has ever seen, of which the Gizmos, Gadgets & Tech Show is a key part. It is also the perfect opportunity to bag a bargain ahead of the festive period and impress loved ones with the latest must-have gadget from leading international and home-grown brands,” Ashley Roberts, Event Director, dmg events Middle East, said in a statement.

The region’s largest consumer lifestyle event — The Life & Style Show UAE — will take place on December 5-7, 2013 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre (Adnec) where the latest gizmos and dadgets will be displayed.

The show is expected to attract more than 51,000 visitors from across the GCC region, over the three days.

Visitors will have the chance to walk away with some of the best bargains in the UAE from top brands such as Virgin Megastore, Sharaf DG+, Intel, Clear-Coat and BlackBerry.

The show will also include an exclusive gaming area in which visitors will battle it out on Sony PlayStation and Nintendo game consoles against friends and strangers for the top score.

“The Life & Style Show UAE offers us a great forum to showcase the online mall concept to our core target audience – the UAE’s technology and retail loving population. Technology is an integral part of the lifestyle here and in line with this, there has been tremendous demand for online retail platforms that offer UAE residents a secure and stress-free channel to shop on-the-go. As an online shopping mall, we provide service that reflects the pace and quality of the lifestyle here and look forward to interacting with the show visitors to present the range of our services,” said Ayaz Maqbool, Managing Director, Tejuri.com, one of the exhibitors at the fair.