The Middle East’s amusement and leisure industry is growing at an unprecedented pace. Abdul Rehman Falaknaz spoke to Gulf News about the trends and the potentials of the sector.

Gulf News: What is your forecast for the amusement, leisure and entertainment sector this year?

Falaknaz: With the kind of developments taking place all across the Middle East, the industry is bound to grow.

As Middle East is focusing greatly on attracting a greater number of tourists, therefore the attention given to amusement, leisure and entertainment is huge. We see all the projects that are coming up integrate amusement and leisure as an essential component.

For the Dubai Entertainment Amusement and Leisure Show, we are expecting a growth of 15-20 per cent for this year. Over the next five years, the exhibition is expected to grow by 35 per cent. Obviously the industry is worth much more than that. Analysts put the growth at 27 per cent.

What is driving this industry's growth? First, there is the investment that is being poured into these sectors. It is of course driven by the objectives of marketing Middle East and Dubai in particular as the ultimate tourist destination.

Secondly, over the years, this part of the world has emerged as a tourist destination, both for the regional tourists, and for people abroad. This is particularly true of Dubai which offers the latest and the most modern facilities, and has surpassed some of the most developed cities in terms of related infrastructure.

Has Dubai carved its name as the amusement and entertainment hub in the region? Dubai has already become a global destination that is attracting people from all around the world.

From the kind and the sheer scale of developments taking place in Dubai, nothing can surpass that. If you were to consider Dubailand only. Look at the theme parks, special parks and other leisure, amusement and retail projects which will be housed in this one particular project only.

Additionally, Dubai has a very strong retail sector that attracts people. Concepts like Dubai Shopping Festival and the Dubai Summer Surprises are already attracting a lot of people to the city as an entertainment destination.

The government is focused on its aim to catapult the city into a top tourist destination. This resolve is only being facilitated by huge partnerships between the public and the private sector.

Which projects have been initiated by Falak Holding in this sector? Falak Holding is one of the three partners in colossal Sports City - the only project of its kind in the world.

The $10 billion city integrates all the aspects of modern living. The project itself would incorporate the most modern entertainment, leisure and amusement facilities.