EMS readies to launch its Direct Marketing, PR, and Advertising services at Dubai Marketing and Media Show

EMS has till now been providing these services in-house for all the exhibitions and other events held at Expo Centre Sharjah.

"Over the years, EMS has built a reputation which is second to none in the region,"

said Mr. Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Manager - Expo Marketing Services (EMS), Expo Centre Sharjah.

"Till now, EMS has been a dedicated in-house agency for Expo Centre Sharjah catering to Press and PR, Advertising, and Direct Marketing needs of the events held within. However, now that the agency has proved itself in providing these specialized services, we have decided to take the plunge and provide our services to outside clients as well. There is no better platform than the Marketing and Media Show to launch ourselves in the region," he added.

Mr. Saif Mohammed Al Midfa further said that EMS had a distinctive advantage given that it has solid experience in serving the region's exhibitions industry.

"Our strength lays in the fact that we have till now catered exclusively to the needs of the booming exhibitions industry in the region. This exclusivity will go a long way in helping us establish a niche in the industry. This however doesn't mean that we will not be tapping other sectors," he said.

Among the services that EMS would be providing to its outside clients are Direct Marketing including Mail shots, E-mail shots, Fax shots, UAE and Middle East database rental and SMS campaign; Advertising including Web designing, Desktop designing, Printing services, and Ad and brochure design; and Press and PR including Press Releases, organizing Press Conferences, Public relation services, Ad copies for print, radio and websites, Sales and product copies, and Editing and proof reading.

"The Advertising and PR industry in the Middle East in general and the UAE in particular has been experiencing unprecedented growth lately," said Mr. Saif Mohammed Al Midfa.

"The reason for the mushrooming of a large number of PR and advertising agencies in the country is therefore quite obvious, but it also means intense competition. To deal with such competition, EMS will be adopting an approach and strategy that is significantly and distinctly different from others. Besides we have a pool of qualified manpower including highly qualified and experienced Strategy specialists, Creative directors, Copywriters, Media planners, and Programmers, and solid sound infrastructure. Both are necessary for the success of any PR and advertising agency," he added.

As per figures available, advertising spend in the GCC increased by almost 18% to $2.10bn in the first six months of 2005 compared to the corresponding period last year. The UAE and Saudi Arabia each hold an advertising market share of 22%, followed by Kuwait at 10%.
In 2004, advertising spending in GCC markets grew by 38% as compared to 2003 from US$2.8 billion to US$3.9 billion.

As far as the entire Arab region goes, spending on advertising has jumped 20 per cent in the first nine months of 2005 to $ 3.65 billion compared to the same period in 2004. The rise has been attributed to an increased spending in television and print media.

"The opportunities in the PR and the advertising industry in the region are galore. We are confident that with the support of ECS and our decades of experience and solid resources, it won't be long before we are a force to reckon with in the industry," said Mr. Saif Mohammed Al Midfa.

EMS is fully backed by Expo Centre Sharjah (ECS), the exhibition wing of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).
ECS was set up in 1977 and is the first-established Trade Exhibition Centre in the United Arab Emirates. In these 28 years, it has been the most popular trade exhibition venue and home of the Gulf's best attended trade shows.