UAE's adspend has surged to $929 million in the first half of the year from $655 million for the same period last year, an increase of 47 per cent, according to a report by the Pan Arab Research Centre.

Adspend of all GCC countries together saw a rise of 23 per cent to $3.77 billion in 2008, against $3.05 billion last year, the report was quoted in the Gulf News.

While Oman topped the list in the GCC with an adspend of $120 million this year compared to last year's $71 million, a growth of 69 per cent, Qatar's adspend saw a mere one per cent rise to $157 million this year,  against $156 million a year ago.

The region's newspaper advertising came first with $1.70 billion, followed closely by television advertising with $1.60 billion, said the report.