GITEX is the 'Dubai Shopping Festival' of the IT industry, says major new report

The "GCC Technology Trends" study, which surveyed 642 users of leading online business resource AME Info, aims to evaluate the success of GITEX for its exhibitors whilst simultaneously providing technology vendors with a comprehensive list of what businesses and consumers expect of IT products today.

Results from the study conducted online between 7th and 18th of September have been released to coincide with GITEX, the Dubai IT exhibition that has attracted almost 2,000 companies to the region.

The study concludes that GITEX has become the seminal event within the Middle East's IT calendar and can therefore be viewed as the "Dubai Shopping Festival for the IT Industry." Among the reasons for its success suggested by interviewees, the direct access to potential customers and high levels of interaction score highly.

"What we found was extremely high levels of brand awareness for GITEX in the GCC - along with strong support for its extension and growth," said Siva Raj, Account Director and survey leader at TNS Middle East and Africa, the global provider of market information that conducted the study.

"It is testament to the success of the event that executives from across the region show high levels of interest in the technology on display at GITEX," he added.

Product demand in critical areas in the GCC

As well as measuring awareness of GITEX itself, the study also examined demand levels for new technology products and singled out the most popular new gadgets on the market.

Laptops are forecast to be this year's biggest seller at GITEX, with 66 percent of respondents who were planning to buy technology looking to invest in them. In the "Most Popular New Product Category," the Toshiba Qosmio laptop was ranked of highest interest among respondents.

Mobile phones were also extremely popular, with a total 33 percent of respondents aiming to purchase one in the coming months. Motorola's stylish Razr phone finished highest among the phones in the "highest interest" section.

Corporate technology

Study respondents from the business world also indicated interest in a number of advanced technology solutions for corporate use, including a number of the products currently on display at GITEX.

Innovative concepts discussed by respondents included a virtual PA capable of monitoring email and planning schedules, as well as a system that would be able to keep companies up-to-date with latest product sales and production problems.

The study recorded the views of a sub-sample of IT specialists, who were asked to name their key priorities in their business technology strategy. These included greater system integration, a technology-enhanced level of customer service, and an increased level of data security.

Management concerns were similarly taken into account with 61 percent citing higher IT enabled business efficiency as a top priority, 36 percent arguing for increasing their competitive advantage through utilising IT products, and 33 percent wanting to align IT and business goals.

Overall trends therefore portray the increased importance of the international IT business within the GCC as well as the burgeoning demand from consumers for technology in the home.

"In all, the study provides the most extensive insight into the technology market available today, indicating the new trends, challenges and opportunities within the Middle East for IT companies," said Klaus Lovgreen, CEO, AME Info.

"We're proud to have supported this study in partnership with TNS and particularly pleased that the data is available as thousands of technology professionals converge on the Middle East for GITEX. Part of AME Info's mission is to provide a complete business resource for the Middle East, and conducting original research like this takes our service to a new level," added Lovgreen.

For further information and/or for a full copy of the report - "GCC Technology Trends" - please contact the Sales Office at AMEInfo.com or TNS Middle East & Africa in Dubai.