This year's Dubai Entertainment, Amusement and Leisure show (DEAL) aims to create the largest ever showcase of world class family entertainment products when it opens in April, said the organisers.

DEAL has grown to become one of the most effective ‘launch-pads’ in the Middle East for all stakeholders within the amusement and related industries, according to International Expo Consults (IEC), the event organisers.

The show which is almost sold out, is scheduled to be held between April 8 and 10 at The Arena Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), Dubai, UAE.

“The GCC countries are currently on an overdrive and they are creating some of the biggest family entertainment centres in the region. The demand is on an upswing and there are several opportunities to be tapped in the North Africa and the Far East Asia region as well,"  remarked Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, the chairman of IEC.

"The exhibitors at DEAL 2014 will benefit immensely as the country plans to invest several billion dollars in the themeparks and amusement sector. This is a great opportunity to blend into the fabric of the country’s themeparks and leisure industry and the early movers will surely stand to benefit in the long run," stated Falaknaz.

"We have observed that there is a renewed energy in the industry and it is on an exponential growth path especially after UAE’s Expo 2020 win. The region will soon witness state-of-the-art amusement and entertainment experience as a result of the innovative products that will be showcased at DEAL 2014," he added.

According to him, the Mena countries are gearing towards ‘retail entertainment’ where a large retail entity supports an entertainment zone that includes not just rides but cinema, food and beverages.

Consumer preferences are gliding towards adrenalin-pumping rides, interactive games, 7D simulation games, redemption games and high-tech video games among others.

"DEAL 2014 will see the introduction of many new products, including revolutionary release of new software, mobile devices, new hardware and outstanding web services. We are investing heavily in research and development, to take the card systems to a new level," stated Falaknaz.

Embed International, a leading provider of dvanced card system, said the company has been part of the DEAL show since the opening of its Dubai office in 2008.

"Embed strongly believed in the development of UAE’s entertainment market, and unlike any other card system providers, we have directly invested and positioned resources on site. Today we have over 10 people working from Dubai office for service, support, sales, installation, training and administration," stated Andrea Bisi, the sales director, EMEA and Asia Pacific.

Embed is part of the LAI Group, which includes game manufacturer LAI Games, as well as Timezone, one of the largest FEC chains in the world with over 230 centers in 7 different countries.

Exhibitors at last year’s show signed contracts worth several million dollars and the show grew by 19 per cent over the previous year. The show welcomed 272 firms from across 33 countries and attracted 5753 quality trade visitors.

“DEAL has grown bigger every year. We have been part of the show since 1998 and since then we have been here every year and it’s been 15 long years that we have been at the show," said Stefano Moser, the owner of Moser Rides, Italy.

"We will be at the expo this year again with even more innovative line-up of products like the ‘Freestyler 6x2 passengers," he added.-TradeArabia News Service