Sportal-Switch, a newly-established joint venture between leading sports equipment providers Switch Entertainment and Sportal, will feature its sports and entertainment products at an upcoming leisure event in Dubai.

The 16th Dubai Entertainment Amusement and Leisure (DEAL) show is opening tomorrow (April 25) and will run until April 27 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Sportal-Switch will present itself as a dominant one-stop-shop for the Middle East’s sports and entertainment needs in key segments such as bowling equipment supplier, top brand of billiard and snooker tables and a wide range of leisure equipments during the event.

The company is set to announce new projects, add suppliers and expand its product portfolio. Sportal-Switch plans to launch new offices in growth markets such as Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Egypt.

“Dubai continues to be the focal point of the Middle East amusement industry and so the 16th edition of DEAL is an excellent venue for us to boost our visibility in the emirate and across the region’s rapidly growing entertainment markets,” said Ahmad Komy, Sportal-Switch executive director.

“Dubai was able to increase its number of hotel visitors last year despite the downturn, and with recovery within sight it expects tourism to pick up this year. We plan to capitalize on this expected trend and help maintain the reputation of the emirate and the region as a whole as a topnotch leisure and entertainment destination,” he added.

A UN World Tourism Organisation report has shown that Dubai was able to increase the number of its hotel guests by 3.2 per cent during the first three quarters of 2009 and will continue to be one of the world’s most popular travel destinations.

Sportal-Switch will capitalize on Dubai’s status as a tourism and entertainment hub to further grow its regional presence, a statement said.

“Our participation in DEAL will allow us to meet many of our old customers and make new contacts as well as explore the numerous opportunities available in the Middle East’s thriving amusements market,” said Alain Winterhalter, president, Switch Entertainment, Switzerland.

“This is the top amusement show in the region’s top amusement market so we expect it to be a major stepping-stone to the success of our new joint venture,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service