Sportex 2008, the premier international event for the sports, fitness, health and leisure industry in the Middle East will take place from November 3 to 5 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

International Expo-Consults (IEC), organisers of the event are hoping the three-day event will get the Middle East's health and leisure industry off to a winning start.

Endorsed by Dubai Sports Council and presented by Dubai Sports City, Sportex 2008 will showcase the very latest in sports, fitness, health, outdoor and stadium equipment in the region.

"Sports culture is spreading across the Middle East at an unprecedented pace, fuelling a very vibrant market for sports goods, infrastructure and services.

"This is supported by factors such as increasing wealth, world-class hospitality, infrastructure and lower travel costs, making the Middle east a prime destination for the sports, health and leisure industry.” said Abdul Rehman Falaknaz, president of IEC.

The Middle East is billed as one of the world's fastest growing regions for the travel and tourism industry.

The region's sports and stadium equipment market alone is estimated to be at $2 billion.

Dubai Sports City (DSC), the cornerstone project of Dubailand, is a $4 billion, 50 million square feet mixed-use development which will be the world's first integrated purpose-built sports city.

The development will be built around five major sports venues and feature a series of major sports academy facilities.

These will include a 5,000 seat hockey stadium, a 60,000 seat multi-purpose outdoor stadium, a 25,000 capacity cricket stadium, a 10,000 seat indoor arena and The Els Club 18-hole championship golf course.

As the Middle East's resident population focuses more on personal health and fitness, fuelled by such mega developments as Dubai Sports City, now is the time for companies to look at marketing their products and brand.

Sportex Middle East offers an exclusive event focused on this burgeoning market segment, providing a perfect platform for the launch of new products to a targeted audience.

Exhibitors at the 2008 edition of Sportex will include camping and outdoor equipment, fitness equipment and accessories, motorbikes and bicycles, golf equipment, indoor sports equipment, track and field sports equipment, shoes and apparels, and sport stadium facilities.

Sportex 2008 is supported by the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI), a world authoritative body for the sports industry and officially recognised by the IOC. - TradeArabia News Service