Dubai Festival City to represent Middle East on international retail real estate committee

The Consultative Committee is made up of retail experts from around the world who help guide the future development of MAPIC - the international trade show for the retail real estate industry which is held annually in Cannes, France.

"The retail industry in the Middle East is developing rapidly and we are seeing an increasing number of exhibitors and visitors from the region at MAPIC," explained Nathalie Depetro, MAPIC Sales Director.

"In addition, there is growing interest among our international exhibitor data-base for information about the retail industry in the Middle East, where it is headed and what it has to offer. It became important to have a Middle East representative on the Consultative Committee and to recognise the importance of the region on the global retail real estate scene."

Judy Neil has 25 years experience in the retail industry having worked with a number of blue chip companies. Now managing the marketing for the unique Dubai Festival City waterfront development, which has extensive and diverse retail offerings and is set to lift the regional shopping experience to new heights, Neil counts among her interests global marketing trends and socio-economic developments.

"This is an important development for the Middle East's retail industry and for Dubai Festival City," said Neil. "It is an acknowledgement that the region is now truly emerging as an international retail player with world-class developments such as Dubai Festival City, which in scale or scope cannot be rivalled elsewhere."

Four of Dubai Festival City's 15 distinct development communities focus strongly on retail. The project's retail offerings total over 248,178 square metres and range from automotive dealerships, value and community centre units catering to automotive, lifestyle, household goods and food. In addition high street retail outlets and showrooms with parking and other shared facilities will be available.

At the very heart of Dubai Festival City is the 'The Crescent', the central retail component. It will provide a collection of lifestyle shopping with an array of brands and a collection of local products, jewellery, leisurewear, home accessories, life-style décor and children's goods. It also features unique restaurants, cafes and entertainment venues.

Created in 1996, the MAPIC Consultative Committee, which boasts representatives from 10 countries, gathers, on an international scale, representative key players from the retail real estate trade. Their aim is to adapt MAPIC to the industry's demands and advice participants and visitors of developments in their particular regions.

Last year, Dubai Festival City, which spans 1,600 acres along the historic Creek in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, made its international exhibition debut at MAPIC.

"The show was very successful for us and enabled us to open up discussions with major retail operators from France, Italy and the Near East as well as innovative food and beverage outlet providers from the USA," said Neil. "With Dubai Festival City now being an integral part of the MAPIC development process, we see our involvement becoming more intense for the benefit of the project and the Middle East as a whole."

MAPIC 2003 will be held at the Palais des Festivals, Cannes from November 19-21.