Dubai, Asharq Al-Awsat- Dubai Media City (DMC) has announced support for the Media and Marketing Show 2005 as a representative industry platform for business facilitation along with its intent to follow a rapid expansion plan in the face of mounting media industry demand for DMC’s facilities so as to anchor Dubai’s status as central media and marketing hub for the Middle East.

Speaking at a press conference today, Mohammad Al Mulla, Director DMC said, “ Dubai Media City has been at the centre of the media industry’s growth in the Middle East. The project’s massive success has led to our planning a swift expansion in DMC infrastructure and offerings. Over the next five years, this should result in DMC’s growth into a far more vibrant and diverse community that will power regional media industry to new heights.”

Al Mulla confirmed support for the Media and Marketing Show 2005, to be held at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre (DIEC) from November 7-9th, with the specific aim of providing the media and marketing sectors a representative platform facilitating business development and networking.

“Dubai Media City is keen to support and promote events that drive the growth of the media industry, and is happy to be part of the Media and Marketing Show, the first major international platform for the marketing and media sector in the Middle East region. An event like the Media and Marketing Show will be the ideal forum to exchange ideas and share knowledge on both global and regional developments and trends”, he said.

The Media and Marketing Show 2005 comes at a time when improved economic conditions and an advertising upswing have helped the global media industry achieve its strongest position since 2000, as per PricewaterhouseCoopers research. The global media industry is forecast to grow at 7.3 percent per annum to US$1.8 trillion by 2009.

Speaking at the press conference, David Domoney, Managing Director, THE DOMUS GROUP, said, “We believe that the regional media and marketing sectors are maturing rapidly, and the Media and Marketing Show is happening at an opportune time when key players are looking to raise their game and increase awareness of their offerings.

Such a representative platform might not have been possible five years ago, but the rapid development of Dubai as media hub for the Middle East region, focused around Dubai Media City ”s efforts to establish itself as a media nexus and facilitating body, means the Show is being closely watched by the industry as an indicator of media trends.”

Also speaking at the press conference, Abdulla Aboulhoul, Director and Partner, stated &#34The Media and Marketing Show will be a pioneering show, bringing media and marketing players to a definitive platform for the first time in Dubai”s history with the specific purpose of raising their profile, and gaining behind-the-scenes perspectives into marketing and media activities while deriving business gains.”

Major regional media players participating in the upcoming Media and Marketing Show 2005 include MEPRA, Khaleej Times, Dubai Media City, Jacobsons, Orient Planet, Saatchi and Saatchi, BBC World, Dubai Television, Gray Business Communications, ITP Consumer, The Economist, Dubai Radio Network, Flip Media, Canon Middle East, CDP, Dom International, Media Factory, The Concept Group, AME Info, Biz Events, Gulf Air, General Motors, Blue Ocean, Les Affichages Pikasso, Connector Publishing, DIT Publishing, Infinity TV and others. Further information about the exhibition can be found at www.dubaimediashow , the official website for the Media and Marketing Show.

“We are encouraged by the fantastic support that we have received from media and marketing players in the region, and are also hugely appreciative of DMC”s support for the show. In November, the Show will host in excess of 100 exhibitors representing over 400 concerns and products in the media and marketing field&#34 Domoney added.

Also present at the press conference, Abdullatif Sayegh, CEO, Arab Media Group (AMG), said, “The Media and Marketing Show 2005 promises to be the ideal venue for AMG to pursue its strategic expansion plans and showcase its diverse offerings. We are pleased to announce support for the Show, and look forward to participating, with a full belief that it will positively impact our business.”