Middle East Exclusive aims to attract broad spread of visitors

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Organiser Channels Exhibitions claims pre-registration is up by 400% compared to 2003.

Buyers from five continents have already signed up for Middle East Exclusive, the Dubai-based trade show for the regional luxury goods, duty-free and travel-retail market, according to organiser Channels Exhibitions. Middle East Exclusive 2004 will welcome buyers from 49 countries, it said.

Channels managing director Justin Boutros said online pre-registrations at www.middleeastexclusive.com were 400% up on the same stage last year, the first year of the event.

He said: "The Middle East will build more than 80 hotels and leisure developments over the next couple of years and has seen new airlines launched and a massive expansion in routes from existing carriers. That has meant more inflight duty free sales and the expansion of duty-free facilities at Qatar and Bahrain. The incredible increase in regional tourism and travel is generating massive growth in the market and that is reflected in the level of enthusiasm for this year's show."

Middle East Exclusive 2004 will host more than 150 exhibitors with goods ranging from jewellery to luxury confectionery and tobacco products.

The show, which last year attracted 1,730 trade visitors from 79 countries, runs from November 29 to December 1 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Middle East Exclusive is being held in association with the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup which runs from November 25-26 and the MEDFA Duty Free Conference from November 27 to 28.