Shaikh Ahmad bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurated Gitex Shopper and Consumer Electronics Expo 2006 - the region's biggest IT retail extravaganza - at the Airport Expo Dubai yesterday.

This seven-day event, which will run till Friday comes with bundled offers, bargains, discounts, competitions, lucky draws, easy instalment schemes, instant rewards and unbelievable prizes to take back home. More than 120,000 visitors are expected to take advantage of this once-a-year shopping bonanza.

"The show occupies 22,000 square metres in two halls where more than 150 leading regional resellers, distributors and vendors are offering some of the best deals in the Middle East. These exclusive offers will be the key attraction for consumers passionate about having the latest technology and gadgets," said Dubai World Trade Centre director-general Helal Saeed Al Marri.

Products that are expected to top the list in sales this year include mobile phones, PDAs and handhelds, digital cameras, laptops, PCs and home entertainment products. The ultimate shopping platform this year is the Shopper Gaming Zone, offering live, action-packed gaming challenge, where winners will get exciting prizes.

At the Shopper Mega Draw, visitors will have the chance to win the grand prize of a complete home theatre system with a 40" plasma TV, and many other fabulous prizes such as laptops, mobiles, and digital cameras. HP, the Gold Sponsor for the event, presents a state-of-the-art interactive 'HP Zone' that will showcase the smart home concept as well as a wide array of HP lifestyle products; while Mercedes-Benz will ride on the wide-reaching consumer appeal of the Gitex Shopper to demonstrate its latest technologies and innovations in its energy offering.

Network International, the region's most comprehensive card solutions provider, will run a credit card promotion with over 30,000 fabulous prizes including airline tickets, DVD players, memory sticks, laptops and plasmas. Jumbo will have Theme Performers alongside their pavilion at the high-energy retail event, while Sharaf DG will conduct a Karaoke Star Contest at their stand. Gitex Shopper and Consumer Electronics Expo 2006 is open from 11am to 9pm from Saturday to Thursday at Airport Expo Dubai. On Friday the show will be open from 3 to 9pm.