Dubai to play host to Character Dubai 2008 and Dubai International E-Games
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| Fair 2008 – Mega exhibitions to attract 280 companies, 25,000 visitors
Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (DCAA), Dubai will play host to two new entertainment exhibitions – the Dubai International Character and Licensing Fair 2008 (Character Dubai 2008) and the Dubai International E-Games Fair 2008.
The first exhibitions of their kind in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the events will be organised by Index Holding from October 28 to 30, 2008. H.E. Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Managing Director of DCAA said, “Character Dubai 2008 and Dubai International E-Games Fair 2008 will promote regional excellence in the art of animation and gaming design while also contributing to the development of Dubai as a hub for this industry in the Middle East and beyond. Given the growth potential of character licensing and e-games in the region, these events will also facilitate greater collaboration between regional and international companies in this sector.” Character Dubai 2008 is expected to bring together more than 280 institutions and 25,000 visitors representing the leading producers, exhibitors, and traders involved in the development, marketing and licensing of cartoon characters from across the world. The fair will create fresh investment avenues for local and regional companies and facilitate new foreign investment in the region, which is one of the largest importers of products and services in the industry estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars. The Dubai International E-Games Fair will also be the largest trade show of its kind in the region. The event will be a platform for showcasing a huge variety of electronic and web games. Various workshops on the latest technologies emerging in this sector will be organised during the two-day exhibition. Abdul Salam Madani, President of Index Holding said, “We are thankful to His Highness Sheikh Majid for his patronage of these two mega events. These exhibitions focus on high-growth sectors that can add value to the economy and contribute to the development of other sectors,” he said. He added, “Character Dubai will focus on international cartoon characters movies, games, multimedia products, as well as the information technology and design elements of the industry. Apart from this, there will also be a focus on the cultural and educational aspects of the sector.” “Dubai International E-Games Fair will focus on products and services in an industry that is now growing at a staggering annual rate of 10.2% in the Middle East,” he said. “The fair will serve to revitalise the e-games industry in the UAE and the entire region,” he said. Madani noted that the two fairs are in line with the economic vision of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai. The events will contribute to Dubai’s efforts to ensure sustainable development and a high quality of life by attracting greater national and international investment. Laila Suhail, CEO of the Dubai Shopping Festival Office, the organisation supervising the global marketing of the Modhesh trademark said, “Sheikh Majid’s patronage of the two events will help raise the profile of Dubai in the international character licensing and e-games markets. The two events will be a significant addition to the region’s exhibition industry.” Suhail, who is also the official advisor to Character Dubai 2008 added, “The licensing of trademarks has become a huge global industry worth billions of dollars. According to a report issued by License Global Magazine in 2007, proceeds of the licensing industry in 2006 reached $187 billion with the licensing of animated characters alone grossing $ 42.7 billion.”
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