(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The expansion and opening of new malls across the GCC region has presented retailers with a unique opportunity to invest in professional audiovisual solutions such as LED displays, virtual shopping screens, and 3D sound environments.
Experts at the InfoComm MEA exhibition, which brings together more than 100 exhibitors from 20 countries, noted that the GCC's retail sector will grow by 25 per cent and is set to hit a record high of $313 billion by 2021. A new report by Avixa, co-organisers of the event, showed that the Middle East and Africa spend on professional audiovisual solutions will grow to $12 billion by 2022.
The UAE's professional audio-visual market is estimated to value $707 million by 2018, up from the expected $656.2 million in 2016, as the industry shakes off a market slowdown, a Euromonitor International (EMI) report found. Economic growth, rising tourism, and the completion of several mega projects, are the key drivers of the UAE's professional audio-visual market, with demand for related equipment and services estimated to grow by nearly eight per cent over the next two years, the research has revealed.
"Digital transformation is taking the front seat in the Middle East as economies are driving forward to diversify from oil to a service and tourism-oriented economy. Professional Audiovisual solutions and especially high-quality audio have a key role to play in projects related to government, education, corporate and the Mice industry," said Chicco Hiranandani, director of sales and marketing, Shure MEA.
"Audiovisual innovations are the biggest game changers for transforming the atmospheric and spatial qualities for GCC Smart Cities and smart interiors. In interior design intangible material such as lighting, music, acoustics, and visual technology can combine to transform the identity of a place and its experience," said Dolli Daou, director, Association of Professional Interior Designers in the UAE, on the sidelines of the event.
"To drive success, GCC mega-project developers need to integrate audiovisual experts with interior designers from the beginning of the design process in order to provide customers and end-users with the right information and experience, which in turn will drive new revenue streams and design innovations," Daou added.
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Rohma Sadaqat I am a reporter and sub-editor on the Business desk at Khaleej Times. I mainly cover and write articles on the UAE's retail, hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors.Originally from Lahore, I have been living in the UAE for more than 20 years. I graduated with a BA in Mass Communication, with a concentration in Journalism, and a double minor in History and International Studies from the American University of Sharjah.If you see me out and about on assignment in Dubai, feel free to stop me, say hello, and we can chat about the latest kitten videos on YouTube.
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