Feature - GITEX Dubai 2009

October 24, 2009
740 words

The New Wave

GITEX Technology Week is the largest event of its kind in the UAE. All year long residents look forward to the event to make full use of the value deals on the various products, as well as to load up on the freebies GITEX is filled with. 2009 GITEX will run from October 18 until October 22. This year, over 3,000 companies from 65 countries are participating in the event. GITEX Shopper drew about 132,761 visitors last year, in an estimate by GITEX Shopper 08. Consumers from all over Dubai and even other countries, flood the roads around Airport Expo in a bid to get their hands on the best of electronic deals. While almost every Dubai resident schedules in some GITEX time into their busy week; There are a few who are struggling to swim against the current of popular consent. These are residents who boycott GITEX with a religious fervour. The reasons may vary from- the lack of time, to branding the event as an overdose of consumerism, to a complete lack of interest. Most people blame the recession for making them cut down on their spending, while others stay away in the last few waves of the panic around H1N1.

Mary Ann Mae, a homemaker says “Everybody rushes into GITEX without thinking, Does no one think of the illnesses that can spread? The Swine Flu scare has people being extra careful about physical contact. Why is it that they forget all this when GITEX comes up? I have two children and I am not going to take them to GITEX, I fear infection. ” While this may be too paranoid a viewpoint, many visitors were spotted at GITEX with children in tow. It may be advisable to leave children at home during GITEX, as multitudes from every walk of life throng into closed quarters. With limited air circulation and such numerous people collected in such close quarters, contagion is inevitable.

Every hyped event brings with it its own band of cynics. Mohammed Rafiq, says “GITEX is just a marketing gimmick, I brought a handycam for what I thought was a good deal. I found out that the same thing was available in the market for about 75 AED lesser than the price at GITEX That was in 2005. I haven’t been to GITEX since. I tell my friends not to fall for the GITEX stunt, but they don’t listen to me. It is very important to do your research on the product you want before you go out to buy it.” Rafiq is one of a surprising number of people who are of the opinion that GITEX deals are not all that they claim to be.

GITEX Shoppers Exhibition adds on to the already existing traffic problems of Dubai. Able Mathew, who works in Rashidiya says, “Thanks to the GITEX week, I spend an extra hour on the roads on my way and back from work. This is the route I take daily and its packed with GITEX shoppers. I wanted to go for Gitex, but the traffic I face to work, makes me want to boycott GITEX. ” Traffic problems are abundant during GITEX. The area surrounding the Airport Expo is dotted with cars lined up in a bid to try and squeeze into the already crowded exhibition halls. Many have horror stories of being stuck in traffic for hours only to be discouraged and turn back home. The heavy traffic chomps down a large number of parking spots in its wake, causing yet another issue - limited parking for visitors. While arrangements have been made for free visitor parking around Airport Expo as well as other designated parking sites around Dubai, parking still stands as a hurdle, with most visitors unable to find suitable spots.

People rush in to grab the best of deals

Photo credits: Blassy Boben

The number of people who shun GITEX is a surprising for reasons like traffic, aversion to crowded places, paranoia, the recession, a general mistrust of popular events, as well as the availability of other alternate crowd pulling events. One such event was a regional show in the Airport Expo, running parallel to GITEX Shoppers. The event, with superstars from the Keralite community, managed to hold its own under the looming shadow of GITEX Shoppers.
GITEX in Dubai is a highly chaotic time. One wonders if the heavy traffic, the nonexistent parking spaces, the entrance fee and the gas chamber like exhibition halls packed with people is worth a few good deals on consumer electronics, if any. Here is a new generation of consumers, who fight against the norm of 'manufactured consent' and make decisions for themselves.

The roads around the exhibition hall choker blocked with visitors

Photo credits: Blassy Boben