The first International Character and Licensing Fair will be held in Dubai from 28 to 30 October 2008 with an extensive participation from 250 international and regional companies. This is one of the top international fairs which expected to attract 10 thousands businessmen, traders, specialists and general public from many countries around the world and visitors.

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 showcases cartoons characters related to media, advertising, tourism marketing and its international licensing.  

Dubai International Character and Licensing Fair 2008 will bring together the leading international charters producers, exhibitors, and traders from the entire MENA countries the Indian Sub - continent, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Amercas .

This came during the launching press conference held at Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing Department.

The press conference was attended  by Mr. Awad Al Saqhyear Al ketbi  CEO of Dubai Convention Bureau, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing DTCM , Mr. Abdul Latif Al Sahegh, CEO  Arab Media Group , Mr. Abdul Salam Al Madani President INDEX Holding Company , Mr. Mohammed Al Habbai CEO Dubailand and Alia Bin Hindi Senior Executive public relations and media at Dubailand.
 
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 UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. It will also focuses on His Highness core message that ensures sustainable development and a high quality of life for all 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 Dubai Land member of Tatweer who endeavour 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 affect 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.

Mohammed Al Habbai, CEO of Dubailand, said: “Dubailand, one of the world’s leading leisure and tourism projects, 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 lleisure 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.”

Alia Bin Hindi will be intensively promoted and marketed locally and internationally till its inauguration in October 2008 with the view to achieve our targets.

Abdul Salam Al Madani said the logo of the fair is the “Camel” which is depicted from Dubai and UAE local environment. We should show the world our culture, which we are proud of. He gave example which taking Kangaroo as a logo in spite of its developmental achievements.

Al Madani added that the coming period will see extensive promotion within our region and globally.

Abdul Latif Al Saieq we select the logo, which we think it coincides with our culture and which we can present it to the world. 

He added that Arab Media Group will promote the Fair in the local and international media.

Awad Al Saqeer Al kutbi  CEO  of Dubai Conventions Bureau, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing DTCM said Dubai Conventions Bureau which has played a significant role in organising this important Fair and will  extensively promote and support. It will be the focal point of our promotional in efforts during the regional and international exhibitions and events which take part in.

Targeted workshops and symposiums will be organised for specialists and artists’. On the closing day of the Fair a number of attractive events targeting business visitors, families and the public will be organized. These events will highlight a number of international cartoon characters, cartoons production and give away presents to the public and the distribution of certificates of appreciation to the participants.

Dubai International Character Fair 2008 is the first of its type 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 because of its unique nature. It is a significant addition to the exhibition industry in the UAE, GCC Countries and in MENA Region.

INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions Organisation Establishment member of INDEX Holding is the organiser of this significant and important Fair in cooperation and the official support from Dubai Conventions Bureau, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing DTCM and Arab Media Group as media partner. Dubai Land member of Tatweer is the official Platinum Sponsor.

 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.