The first International Character and Licensing Fair will be held in Dubai from October 28 to 30 next year with an extensive participation from 250 international and regional companies. The fair is expected to attract 10,000 businessmen, traders, specialists and general public from various countries around the world.

INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions Organisation Establishment, member of INDEX Holding, is the organiser of this Fair in cooperation and the official support from Dubai Convention Bureau, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Arab Media Group (AMG) as media partner. Dubailand, a member of Tatweer, is the official Platinum Sponsor.

This was announced at a Press conference addressed by Mr. Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, DTCM Executive Director Conventions and Heritage Division, Mr. Mohammed Al Habbai, CEO of Dubailand, Mr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, President Index Holdings and Mr. Abdul Latif Al Sayegh, Chairman of AMG.

Mr. Al Ketbi said the Fair will help raise the profile of Dubai in international markets and enable the world to benefit from Dubai utilizing its hub status, especially in media, tourism and IT domains. It will be a significant addition to the exhibition industry of the region.

Mr. Al Madani said the Fair will focus on international cartoon characters animations, technical, cultural, educational, movie, entertainments, games, information technology, multimedia, arts, characters designs and animations.

It will also showcase cartoons characters related to media, advertising, tourism marketing and its international licensing.

The Dubai International Character and Licensing Fair 2008 will bring together the leading international charters producers, exhibitors, and traders from the entire Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries, the Indian Sub - continent, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas.

The Dubai International Character Fair-2008 and the professionally designed seminars and workshops that run in conjunction with the Fair will focus on the UAE Government Strategy announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

It will also focuses on Sheikh Mohammed’s core message that ensures sustainable development and a high quality of life for all the UAE nationals by attracting national and international brands and investments. It will project the Government support extended to the exhibition industry in the country.

It will also target the role of tourism, media, and IT in the social and economic development. Besides, it will reflect the notable participation of the entire private sector in economic, social, educational, and cultural sectors.

The fair will create new avenues for local and regional investors and facilitates new foreign investment in the region which a net importer of character and licensing industry that worth billion of dollars.

The Emirate of Dubai looks forward to attain productive local and foreign investment through Dubailand which endeavor to facilitate and provide excellent investment packages to attract international and regional corporate to invest in Dubai.

The establishment of excellent and integrated infrastructure for investors effects positively the labour market and create additional opportunities for nationals. This has encouraged Dubailand to take the imitative to take the Platinum Sponsorship of Dubai International Character Fair 2008.

Mr. Al Habbai said: “Dubailand will not only be marketing overseas brands such as Universal Studios and Tiger Woods Dubai. We will also develop and market entertainment characters and leisure brands keeping in mind the regional sensitivities and culture. Our objective is to create not only products but also leisure and entertainment institutions in Dubai. We are sure these home-grown institutions and products will gain global status and get wider acceptance in the international markets.”

Dubai International Character Fair 2008 will be the first of its type of fair to be hosted by Dubai International Exhibition Centre, the UAE and by the entire Middle East and North Africa. This internationally recognised Fair would be staged annually.

The organiser has launched the official logo of the Fair the copy right of which is registered internationally. The logo depicts the ancient character writing of the UAE ancestors before the invention of today’s writing and other means of communication. INDEX has also announced during the press conference the slogan” Be Like Dubai” and its copy right registration.