The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) has announced the launch of GITEX Saudi Arabia, a premier exhibition for the computing and information technology industry in April 2002. The inaugural show is scheduled to be held in Riyadh from April 21 to 25. GITEX Saudi Arabia will be organised by Riyadh Exhibitions Company Ltd., an organiser of exhibitions and trade shows including the Saudi Computer Show, a successful information technology event held in the Saudi capital annually.
Under an exclusive agreement signed between Riyadh Exhibitions Company and the DWTC, the Saudi company has been licensed to be the organiser and promoter of GITEX Saudi Arabia which is to be held annually in the Saudi capital during the first half of the year.
Taking GITEX to Saudi Arabia is a significant move by DWTC in the direction of expanding the GITEX brand name throughout the Middle East region. "The Kingdom is the biggest market in the Gulf region. GITEX Saudi Arabia will be an excellent opportunity for us to expand our brand name and the brand equity of GITEX in the whole of the Middle East region," said Wahid Attalla, general manager of the Dubai World Trade Centre. GITEX Dubai, the flagship show of DWTC is the largest and most successful event of its kind in the Middle East. Due to its immense success, DWTC took the show to the regional markets in 1999. In addition to GITEX Dubai, DWTC organises GITEX in Cairo, Egypt and Beirut, Lebanon. And from next year, the show will be staged in Hyderabad, India, and in Riyadh.
The agreement between DWTC and Riyadh Exhibitions Company also entitles the Saudi firm to organise Computer Shopper, the show's retail arm. "We are sure the prestige and the high brand image of GITEX will help us in attracting most leading names in the global computer industry to Riyadh. We are delighted to be associated with DWTC, a world-class exhibition organiser," said Akram Masri, director, technical affairs, Riyadh Exhibitions Company. The growing popularity of information technology thanks to government and private sector initiatives has seen a phenomenal growth in the IT sector in the Middle East in recent years. According to a recent study by the International Data Corporation (IDC), IT spending in the region will be more than $ 4.6 billion in 2002.
"The growing demand for both hardware and software solutions in the region and the big size of the Saudi Arabian market is expected to attract leading regional and global IT industry players to Saudi Arabia. The very high quality and goodwill the GITEX brand name enjoys in the region will definitely be an advantage. And we are fully committed to helping the organisers make GITEX Saudi Arabia a big success," said Ibrahim Al Hashemi, corporate manager, exhibitions, Dubai World Trade Centre.
With GITEX Saudi Arabia set to take off next April, the Dubai World Trade Centre hopes to play the key role of a catalyst in enhancing trade relations between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, especially in the field of information technology. "GITEX Saudi Arabia is a big opportunity for DWTC and Riyadh Exhibitions Company to mutually benefit from each other's strengths. Our local expertise and a good knowledge of the Kingdom's market combined with the high standards set by DWTC will make the show one that is internationally reputed," said Albert G. Aoun, executive vice-president, Riyadh Exhibitions Company. Since its inauguration two decades ago, DWTC has played a decisive role in stimulating regional and international trade through the UAE. Today, it has over 55,000 sq m of exhibition space under its management and hosts more than 70 exhibitions and events every year. More than 73,000 trade visitors from 102 countries attended GITEX Dubai 2000, while GITEX Computer Shopper reported a visitor turnout exceeding 76,000.
