Booming digital imaging market comes into sharp focus at Dubai expo

The three-day event at Exhibition Hall 5, was officially opened by Mr Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair, vice-president of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Entry is restricted to trade and professional visitors until this afternoon when doors will be open to the public.

A parallel conference features a series of seminars ranging from market trends in digital imaging to expert advice on lighting for portrait photography, 3D technology, and imaging software.

As well as new technology, the show hosts photographic displays featuring the work of students at Sharjah University and the American University in Dubai, as well as Art Connection and the Qatar Photographic Society
Their art demonstrates how digital imaging has created a technological revolution that is transforming the 164-year history of photography to become one of the world's biggest growth industries.

Sales of digital cameras are soaring by more than 60 per cent a year - up from 11 million in 2000 to 18 million in 2001 to 30 million in 2002, 50 million in 2003, and an estimated 77 million last year.

This year's sales of camera-phones alone - roughly 370 million - will exceed the combined off-take of digital and analogue cameras, according to Justin Boutros, managing director of Channels Exhibitions, the organisers of Photo-World Dubai 2005.

"The market data underline the ideal timing of Photo-World Dubai 2005 to capture the phenomenal growth in consumer and professional demand for digital imaging," he said, "giving professional photographers and enthusiasts unprecedented exposure to what is new in a highly dynamic industry."

Around 60 exhibitors have signed up for 17,500 sq m of floor space, and came from 16 countries from around the world compromising two national pavilions from Spain and Italy, in addition to Belgium, Bahrain, China, France, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Jordan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Qatar, and major suppliers in the UAE.

They include some of the most renowned names such as AAA of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom's leading chain of electronic and digital equipment suppliers; Huachang Photographic Backgrounds from China; Tenaui Minilabs from Singapore; A-One Industries, wholesaler and exporter of photographic items operating in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China; and market leader Henzo Photo Albums of the Netherlands. Retailer Plug-Ins of the UAE is driving consumer sales with leading world brands.
Trade visitors are attending from across the entire Middle East, as well as from Africa, central Asia, the Indian sub-continent, CIS countries, Europe, and the Far East, while public attendance will be drawn primarily from the UAE and neighbouring countries.