Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC), organizer of GITEX Technology Week and GITEX Shopper & Consumer Electronics Expo, announced on Monday the launch of GITEX Digital Game World, an interactive event that will incorporate the largest digital tournament ever held in the Middle East. Taking place simultaneously at GITEX Technology Week and GITEX Shopper & Consumer Electronics Expo, the event will cover all aspects of games. GITEX Technology Week will provide a platform to discuss the business-to-business potential of this innovative market, including special sessions on online retail sales and interactive advertising while regional teams will battle it out in a series of organized games and online tournaments, held at GITEX Shopper. Helal Saeed Almarri, director general, DWTC, said: “Talking to our exhibitors it became clear that digital games have turned out to be a very important market in the Middle East, with not only the young population of the region but a wider adult audience increasingly investing a higher proportion of their disposable income in specialized hardware and software.” “We want to use GITEX Technology Week's unique global positioning to bring together distributors, developers and enthusiasts from around the world to profile the latest and the best in game technology. Providing a virtual link to GITEX Shopper will offer trade visitors and members of the public an opportunity to participate in the event and see the latest releases.” To provide a fully-interactive experience, DWTC has partnered with Europe's Electronic Sports League, to organize the largest game tournament in the history of the Middle East as part of GITEX Digital Game World. “The business potential of electronic gaming is enormous and the Middle East market is proving incredibly receptive to new games and online tournaments. We're proud to be working with DWTC to stage the first tournament of this size and scale in the entire region, and we're confident of a tremendous response," said Jens Hilgers, CEO, Turtle Entertainment, operator of the ESL. In terms of revenue, games for the Personal Computer (PC) sector alone earned a staggering $8.2 billion in online and retail sales in 2007, according to market-research firm DFC Intelligence, which also predicts that the market will grow by more than 80 percent in the next five years. GITEX Technology Week will open on Oct. 19-23, from 10 A.M. - 7 P.M. daily. __
