Duty-free exhibition announced for Dubai 2003

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A major new duty-free and travel-retail exhibition is to be held in the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) from 1 to 3 December 2003. The exhibition will be officially unveiled at a press conference in Dubai next month at the Press Club.

The event, dedicated to luxury goods and premium brands, is being developed by Channels Exhibitions managing director, Justin Boutros, an exhibition organiser and publisher with branches in Singapore and Beirut, long-time TFWA secretary-general Elysabeth Blachais-Catoire and ex-Tax Free Trader publisher John Kennedy.

Channels said it has been awarded a licence by the DWTC to organise the exhibition. The objective is to organise a highly-customised business-to-business platform, bringing buyers and brands together for effective interaction and networking throughout the "wide Middle East", including North Africa, Levant and the Indian Sub-Continent .

Boutros commented: "The Middle East is the fastest-growing region in the world, with especially rapid development in travel and luxury goods: the two businesses that underpin the duty-free and travel-retail industry.

"International tourist arrivals grew from 15.3m in 1998 to 20.3m in 2000 and are forecast to hit 36m by 2010."

"We at Channels are delighted to have the support of the whole Dubai community in this landmark initiative. We are particularly grateful that HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, president of the Department of Civil Aviation, has given the event his patronage, which underlines the tremendous high-level government support enjoyed by the region's travel-related industries. Dubai Duty Free, rated the best airport shop retailer in the world for two successive years in the Frontier Awards, and the Middle East Duty-Free Association are also lending their support."

For further details contact:
Channels Exhibitions
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 04 282 4737
Fax: +971 04 282 5757
Email: channels@emirates.net.ae