Retail developers do business at the MECSC Leasing Fair & Trade Expo

• Over 45 exhibitors and 1500 visitors make contacts, sign deals
• The region’s most ambitious retail developments on display
• Participation key element of ongoing marketing strategies

Dubai, March 21, 2007: Along with attending presentations from a variety of leading retail and branding experts, the hundreds of delegates and visitors at the 12th annual Middle East Council of Shopping Centres (MECSC) Convention visited 45-plus exhibitors at the event’s Leasing Fair & Trade Expo. The Expo, according to those who attended, has become one of the most important industry networking events in the Middle East.

"It’s been great," said Douw Meyer, a Retail Leasing Manager for Dubai Festival City. "We’ve spoken to lots of retailers interested in our projects, and some marketers and developers as well. We have done deals, but also we get to see what else is going on across the region. We’ve been very pleased."

David Hatton, Manager of Middle East Retail Services for Colliers International Property Consultants, said the MECSC expo provides a unique opportunity to attract future business partners. "The thing about this event is that you get to talk to people who are in the industry," he said. "We’ll either make initial contact or do deals here. It’s very useful."

The Ilyas and Mustafa Galadari Group signed a deal with Azadea Group which was announced during the MECSC Annual Convention. According to the agreement, the Mall of Arabia will contain 37 separate stores from the Azadea franchise portfolio of over 30 top brands which include Zara and the Virgin megastore.

Another excited exhibitor was Muath B. Al Roumi, Deputy General Manager of Corporate Marketing for Tamdeen Shopping Centre Development, who pointed to a nearby stall and remarked that business negotiations with the retailer occupying it began at today’s MECSC expo. "This is one of the most successful networking events in the Middle East," he said. "As someone in retail development, this is a must."

While some attendees said that the MECSC expo allowed them to keep track of the competition, Ahmed Yassin, Marketing Manager for Al Othaim Real Estate Investment & Development, said that exhibitors often provide each other with assistance, such as referring appropriate retailers. "We attend all the specialist conventions around the world," Yassin said. "We find this one to be among the best. We get exposure and we’ve worked out some deals. We feel comfortable here."

Wael El Barbary, Mall Manager for Aldar Properties, agreed that the MECSC expo allows attendees and exhibitors to keep up to date with regional developments and standards, but said that the exposure his company receives is one of the main reasons for its participation. "This is definitely one of our favourite events of its kind," he said. "Let’s just say that one a one-to-five scale, this one scores at least a four."

For Ani Vladi, Sales & Marketing Manager for Dubai Investment Properties, providing people with a fuller picture of her company’s activities is the a key reason to attend the expo. "For us, this is more of a public relations exercise," she said. "It introduces people to the core of our company. And maybe we can use our participation in marketing afterwards. This will support our communication campaigns in the future."

Other exhibitors at the expo included Dubai Properties, Majid Al Futtaim Shopping Malls, BurJuman, Al-Hokair Group and others. The premier event of its kind in the region, this year’s MECSC Convention is the largest yet, attracting over 300 delegates from around the world. The event concluded its two-day run yesterday.