The 2016 edition of the Dubai Entertainment Amusement and Leisure Show (DEAL) was officially inaugurated yesterday by H.E. Butti Saeed Al Ghandi, second vice chairman of the host venue, the Dubai World Trade Centre.

On its first day, the 22nd edition of the Middle East’s largest trade show for the entertainment, amusement and retail sectors welcomed over 300 exhibitors from over 33 countries and is set to attract thousands of visitors over the next two days.

With a giant floor space for exhibitors, seminars and a new expanded section, DEAL Show 2016 caters to the exhibitors and visitors from the Middle East, North Africa and other parts of the globe.

Last year’s DEAL show signed over AED1.2bn ($325m) worth of contracts and, with the amusement industry’s growth and the upsurge in demand for services and equipment in this sector, 2016 is a promising year for the event.

“We are pleased to welcome the stellar line-up of regional and international exhibitors and visitors at this edition’s DEAL,” said Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, chairman of the event’s organiser, International Expo Consults (IEC).

“By 2020, theme parks and amusement attractions in the UAE are set to rake in billions of dollars in revenues with the rise of the region’s tourism sector and Dubai becoming a world-class family tourism destination. Entertainment zones today have become an integral part of the tourism and retail industry sectors.”

A full show report will be included in the next issue of InterPark.