“Africa as a continent is evolving and so are the economies within it. The millennials are looking for the latest entertainment concepts and they want to have the best entertainment destinations within their countries.  Their tastes and preferences are changing each day and they want to be at the forefront of the latest immersive entertainment concepts. With this change in behaviour they also need engaging and immersive experiences to support their entertainment appetite.  This has given rise to new gaming concepts such as VR and now they are further engaged by robots who can serve them food and beverages. DEAL 2022 is one such trade show that will help the African operators to meet with this burgeoning demand,” stated Sharif Rahman, CEO of International Expo Consults (IEC).

With 300 plus exhibitors from across 45 plus countries, DEAL 2022 is all set to bring the industry leaders and showcase concepts that are developed with the current requirements of the fast-paced generation.

“Africa’s population is set to grow to 2.3 billion by 2050. In contrast to the rest of the world, however, its booming population is getting younger. Experts believe that the next big thing for the entertainment and leisure industry especially in the African region would be driven by virtual reality technology.  Several DEAL 2022 exhibitors from across the globe would be showcasing a plethora of concepts that the African FECs and Amusement operators to choose from. Soon theme park enthusiasts strapped with VR paraphernalia, will enter worlds that were literally impossible to recreate,” added Mr.Rahman.

IEC CEO further stated that, “This is a great business opportunity for mall owners, real estate developers and other stakeholders in Africa, planning to launch or grow their unique projects embedded with a gaming / entertainment zone.  DEAL 2022 will provide the right platform to create a win-win-win situation for the exhibitors, visitors and the end consumers who will experience these amazing concepts.”

On the growth of the virtual reality concepts, Mr. Rahman, stated that,“ Today, the entertainment aspect is an integral part of any retail megamall. The key reason is to increase the footfall of people and eventually increase sales. The African stakeholders who visit DEAL can also visit the VR Parks in UAE to know the potential and also to know how they are growing their revenues. The facility can remain the same, however, the software and the games need to be upgraded and changed which is not as expensive as changing the whole interiors of the facility. In Dubai, there are many options for VR based rides in Virtual Worlds, Magic Planet among others, an exclusive VR Park in Dubai Mall has changed the face of entertainment in the city”.

DEAL 2022 will take place within the mega World EXPO 2020 Dubai calendar months which is scheduled between 1^st of October 2021 and 31^st March 2022. The DEAL show organisers urge the participating exhibitors to plan their trip in advance to also witness this multi-billion-dollar event.