'UAE retail has quarter century head-start in region'

The UAE’s retail industry is miles ahead of its regional peers and no international retailer worth their salt can afford to not be present in Dubai, the organisers of a consumer goods trade fair has said.

“The UAE has a head-start of a quarter of a century in the region’s retail industry and Dubai has become the turning platform and the undisputed must-be-present market for almost all international retailers,” said Satish Khanna, General Manager of Al Fajer Information & Services, organisers of International Autumn Trade Fair (IATF) 2014.

The 29th International Autumn Trade Fair (IATF), now branded as ‘Smart Living’, will open on December 1 in Dubai.

According to Khanna, the UAE’s rapidly growing GDP makes it a strong retail market supported by ambitious long-term plans.

A recent report by the AT Kearney Global Retail Development Index shows that the UAE climbed to the 4th position among the most attractive retail markets globally, helped by retail sales growing at 5 per cent in 2013, with annual sales crossing $66 billion.

“With plans to launch Mall of the World in place and the current expanding retail space across the Emirate, Dubai is raising the competition bar to a whole new level,” said Khanna.

Smart Living covers sectors like house ware, cookware, kitchenware, bake ware, tableware, bed and bath products, and leather goods.

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