The Expo, according to those who attended, has become one of the most important industry networking events in the Middle East.

'It's been great,' said Douw Meyer, a Retail Leasing Manager for Dubai Festival City. 'We've spoken to lots of retailers interested in our projects, and some marketers and developers as well. We have done deals, but also we get to see what else is going on across the region. We've been very pleased.'

David Hatton, Manager of Middle East Retail Services for Colliers International Property Consultants, said the MECSC expo provides a unique opportunity to attract future business partners. 'The thing about this event is that you get to talk to people who are in the industry,' he said. 'We'll either make initial contact or do deals here. It's very useful.'

Muath B. Al Roumi, Deputy General Manager of Corporate Marketing for Tamdeen Shopping Centre Development, pointed to a nearby stall and remarked that business negotiations with the retailer occupying it began at today's MECSC expo. 'This is one of the most successful networking events in the Middle East,' he said. 'As someone in retail development, this is a must.'

The Ilyas and Mustafa Galadari Group signed a deal with Azadea group which was announced during the MECSC Annual Convention. The Mall of Arabia will contain 37 separate stores from the Azadea franchise portfolio of over 30 top brands which include Zara and the Virgin megastore.

While some attendees said that the MECSC expo allowed them to keep track of the competition, Ahmed Yassin, Marketing Manager for Al Otham Real Estate Investment & Development, said that exhibitors often provide each other with assistance, such as referring appropriate retailers. 'We attend all the specialist conventions around the world,' Yassin said. 'We find this one to be among the best. We get exposure and we've worked out some deals. We feel comfortable here.'

Wael El Barbary, Mall Manager for Aldar Properties, agreed that the MECSC expo allows attendees and exhibitors to keep up to date with regional developments and standards, but said that the exposure his company receives is one of the main reasons for its participation. 'This is definitely one of our favourite events of its kind,' he said. 'Let's just say that one a one-to-five scale, this one scores at least a four.'

For Ani Vladi, Sales & Marketing Manager for Dubai Investment Properties, providing people with a fuller picture of her company's activities is the a key reason to attend the expo. 'For us, this is more of a public relations exercise,' she said. 'It introduces people to the core of our company. And maybe we can use our participation in marketing afterwards. This will support our communication campaigns in the future.'

Other exhibitors at the expo included Dubai Properties, Majid Al Futtaim Shopping Malls, BurJuman, Al-Hokair Group and others. The premier event of its kind in the region, this year's MECSC Convention is the largest yet, attracting over 300 delegates from around the world. The event concluded its two-day run yesterday.

'We couldn't be happier with the way this year's conference has played out,' said Kim Redmond, MECSC Regional Director. 'We are especially pleased that representatives from this vital sector were able to meet and discuss business with each other, and to keep up to date with the latest developments in the region. There really were some incredible projects on display this year, developments that promise to have a real impact on the regional economy.'

Redmond also praised the speakers at the conference. 'Individually, you couldn't have asked for a more knowledgeable and eloquent group,' she said. 'What's really pleasing to me, though, is the way this year's line-up worked together to provide a complete picture of what's going on in the region, and then to have Middle East developments put into a global context. It was a fascinating programme.'

Topics discussed ranged from the rising demand for luxury brands to the importance of visual merchandising. Speakers predicted a bright future for shopping centres in the Middle East. Delegates heard that 53 million square feet of retail space has already been completed in the region, with another 160 million square feet expected within a decade. Despite these numbers, developers are seeing high demand from retailers and international brands are moving into the region at unprecedented rates.

The premier event of its kind in the region, the 2007 MECSC Convention was the largest yet. Speakers at the event included Majid Saif Al Ghurair, MECSC Chairman and President of BurJuman; James Bellini, a leading Futurologist; Michael Kercheval, President of International Council of Shopping Centres; Phil McArthur, Managing Director Shopping Centres and Commercial Real Estate, Al Futtaim Group; Steve Kaufmann, Editor of Visual Merchandising and Store Design; Radha Chadha, Principal, Chadha Strategy Consulting; and Gary Chapman, President, Group Support Services, Emirates Airlines.

The Leasing Fare & Trade Expo ran concurrently with the conference. The event ran March 19 through March 20, 2007.