Media and Marketing Show expects 30% growth this year

The Media and Marketing Show (MMS) 2009 will be organised from November 3 until 5 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The fifth edition of the exhibition will not see an increase in space, or any change in exhibition fees, the organisers announced.

Despite the current economic downturn, which has hit the media industry since the end of last year, MMS 2009 still expects to maintain the annual growth of 20 to 30 per cent year on year, according to Maysoon Abulhoul, Managing Director of Domus Group, the exhibition organiser.

"This is strengthened by our tie-ups with high-profile players in the industry, such as MBC Group," she said.

Yet, MMS 2009 may be facing challenges with delayed bookings due to budget constraints, and lease smaller spaces. "Last year, it used to take one week to finalise a booking, but this year, due to the current situation, exhibitors are taking nearly a month to send their confirmations."

She said: "Even if budgets are reduced, our exhibitors would still want to be present at this year's event. However, the economic challenges may force them to reduce their exhibition space. Almost 70 to 80 per cent of our previous exhibitors are confirmed, either by actually leasing their spaces, or by sending written and verbal confirmations."

Abulhoul said the organisers will be able to replace the 30 per cent gap with new exhibitors. The MMS 2009 announcement was also attended by Abdulla Abulhoul, CEO of Domus Group, and Mohamed Abdulla, Executive Director of Dubai Media City, and Fadi Ismail, General Manager, O3 Productions-MBC Group, strategic partners of this year's edition.

The exhibition will showcase companies from 11 segments across the media industry, with the addition of the production segment. Abulhoul said production companies were present in previous years, but not as a consolidated segment.

Ismail said: "This agreement with the MMS underscores the need for a regional platform for the media production industry. With 1,400 companies in the Dubai Media City and more than 150 TV stations along with projected growth of the industry, we believe there is a great potential for production."

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