Retail Exhibition to showcase regions latest mixed-use developments

More than 30 retail specific exhibitors are taking part in the annual event, with close to 300 retail, mall development and retail real estate decision makers attending the concurrent conference. Visitor traffic is expected to at least double on last year's figures for this focussed industry event based on pre-event registrations received.

Kim Redman, Regional Director for the MECSC, said: "The response to this year's exhibition and forum has been unprecedented. It's hardly surprising when you see the scope for retail, and how dominant it has become in our day-to-day lives. Retail is now recognised as a major sector, playing its part in the overall development of the Arab world."

Exhibitors from as far afield as Hong Kong in the east to the United States in the west have signed up to feature their services and highlight new developments in the retail world, including Retail & Leisure International, Omnix Media Networks, Grottini S.R.L., Synergy Information Systems and FootFall Asia Limited.

FootFall is the leading provider of customer counting technology and statistics to both the retail and retail property sectors. Based in the United Kingdom with offices in 11 countries worldwide, FootFall clients include many of the major top 100 retailers. The company's unique combination of market specific software and hardware enables shopping centre management teams to gain insight into their business performance and maximise their strategic thinking.

Synergy is a solution Provider for Timberline Office solutions. Timberline Office Software simplifies property management. It's a unique, fully integrated family of financial and operations software that help retailers convert the numbers into hard facts that support smart decisions and help keep a sharp eye on cash flow and cost forecasts.

Grottini on the other hand develops retail environments that spark customer interest, excitement and loyalty, enhancing clients' competitiveness. Based in Italy, Grottini services range from strategy and research to branding, design and architecture.

Regional participation has also seen strong demand for exhibitor space, with a number of Saudi exhibitors, along with participants from Kuwait, Oman and Egypt, as well as the UAE, including Tamdeen Shopping Centre Development Co. from Kuwait, Project Management & Development Company (PMDC) Saudi Arabia, Dubai Festival City, Dubai Properties, United Properties.

Redman continued:

"It is great to see the event growing each year, and being able to provide this kind of support for the industry sector. With the number of new projects scheduled to launch in the next few years, I am sure we will see some interesting developments during this year's exhibition and forum."

A number of key sponsors have signed up to participate in MECSC's Retail Real Estate Forum & Exhibition, including Dubai Festival City, Dubai Properties, BurJuman, Tamdeen Shopping Centre Development Company (Tamdeen SCD) from Kuwait and PMDC - Property Management and Development Company from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Ahmed Al Sarawi, Managing Director for Tamdeen SCD said: "It is an honour for us to sponsor an exhibition with such calibre. We are confident the event will prove successful and will provide participants with a unique insight into the recent developments and latest trends of the shopping centre industry. We are also looking forward to exchanging new strategies and innovative ideas to benefit our business in the future."

The Middle East Council of Shopping Centres Retail Real Estate Forum and Exhibition, will take place at the Jumeirah Convention Centre, The Jumeirah Beach Hotel from December 13 to 14, 2005.

The exhibition will be open from 9 am to 6 pm on 13 and 14 December 2005 at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel Conference Centre.