The Middle East Toy Fair is expected to underscore Dubai’s potential as a major trading hub by attracting international exhibitors to meet major regional buyers in Dubai.

The region’s leading trade fair for toys, baby products and educational supplies will be held from March 31 to April 2, 2008, according to organisers Epoc Messe Frankfurt GmbH.

“The Middle East Toy Fair is the ideal platform for exhibitors to network and meet major buyers, industry influencers, and educators involved in the shaping of the Middle East toy market,” said show manager Middle East Toy Fair Monica Schulz Blank.

Dubai plays a prominent role as a trade hub for the region and in 2006, the emirate imported toys worth over Dh518 million ($141 million), serving as a distribution hub for the neighboring markets, said Blank.

“During the past decade, Dubai expanded its trading activity well beyond its traditional base in Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran,” added Blank.

“As a market for other countries’ exports, Dubai’s potential is much greater than its size would indicate.  A booming re-export trade adds substantially to the demand and a large proportion toys imported into Dubai are for redistribution to neighboring markets,” said Blank.

Baby and Infant Middle East as well as Stationery and Back to School Middle East will be dedicated product areas within the Middle East Toy Fair, giving exhibitors and visitors, specific areas to source products and forge new business relationships.

The Trade Fair is guided by the 2008 Middle East Toy Fair Advisory Panel formulated by the prominent industry players The Toy Store, Emsons, Simba Toys Middle East, Kidz Inc., Al Shula Trading and MBC Group.

 It is a unique platform for exhibitors to network with one another and meet major buyers, industry influencers, and educators involved in the shaping of the Middle East toy market.

Following the international trend for high quality toys with educational value, 55 per cent  of all visitors in 2007 were looking for educational toys and learning products, as independent market research showed. – TradeArabia News Service