Expo Centre Sharjah has announced a seven per cent year-on-year increase in the number of visitors to the various exhibitions and events organised by the centre during the first quarter of 2017, with more than 302,474 visitors to the various events and exhibitions coming from around the UAE and beyond.

Saif Mohamed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, attributed this increase to this year's 12 specialised exhibitions organised by the centre, in addition to a number of small- and medium-sized events, where thousands of visitors across all ages and nationalities frequented them.

Expo Centre Sharjah, Al Midfa said, has become a unique venue for regional and international companies to promote their products and services in the Middle East. It has become the destination due to its advanced capabilities, large showrooms, state-of-the-art facilities, and specialised management, marketing, and promotion departments.

"This year's higher numbers of visitors and companies prove that the exhibition industry in the Emirate is growing continuously. This industry supports the local economy of the Emirate of Sharjah and contributes to the overall productivity and economic growth of the UAE," he added.

Al Midfa highlighted the most popular exhibitions in the first quarter, such as the MidEast Watches and Jewellery Show, which attracted over 61,000 visitors, resulting in high figures in sales and excellent exposure to participating brands.

A similar success story comes from the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival, organised by the Sharjah Book Authority, which attracted over 123 exhibitors and offered more than 2,100 events, with a total of 157,000 visitors from around the world stopping by the unique event.

For the remainder of 2017, the Expo will organise a broad range of exhibitions, including Halal Middle East exhibition and Sharjah International Book Fair, among others. The volume of these exhibitions points to the Expo's pioneering economic, cultural, and social role, which makes Sharjah stand out and contributes to the economic growth of the UAE.

Source: Khaleej Times