Dubai - As premium brands shift to the digital arena, the news from the Middle East about the rise of Smartphones is likely to further boost the luxury sector's fortunes.
Telecom and IT research firm, IDC, said in a recent report that the market share of Smartphone shipments to the Middle East has grown from 27 percent in 2013 to 41.9 percent by the end of 2014 - indicating an increase of 83 percent.
With more than 100 percent mobile penetration and approximately 60 percent Smartphone penetration, the region is more than ready to embrace the digital aspect of luxury brands.
Things become more interesting when it comes to oil-rich GCC countries, where, according to the IDC, the Smartphone penetration is set to reach 80 percent by end of 2015 - this is on par with markets such as the United States, Russia and China.
To understand the technological dynamics of the luxury sector in the Middle East, attendance at arab luxury world is a must. The two-day conference at the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi on June 1 and 2 will discuss questions related to the latest technologies, digital marketing and the readiness of brands in the premium spectrum.
There are at least five sessions on digital media and technology, where senior executives from IT companies and luxury brands will discuss the different aspects of building bridges between digital and premium brands.
They sessions are:
1) Can digital media replace print?
The investment toward digital media has risen in 2014. With brands spending four to ten percent of their budget on digital advertising, how are media adapting to those new challenges and to this migration? Can digital media kill the double spread? How does the Arab world fare against the trends in the US and Europe?
2) Technology's impact on luxury
With Smartwatches, 3D printing and the Internet of Things coming to the market, the luxury industry will need to prepare for all-new categories. What is the current situation in the region? How will this impact a market that used to be driven by novelty? What is the new digital equation in the luxury industry?
3) The use and abuse of social media
With bloggers and Instagram users becoming tools for brands to promote their products, can social media market luxury brands as effectively as a traditional medium? Is the tool overused and losing its aspect of genuineness?
4) Digital strategy
As the digital infrastructure of the region keeps growing, the bandwidth of the connection allows the deployment of new strategies. Brands try to reproduce the in-store experience through purpose-designed sites. There will also be an update on the status of e-commerce, advertising, branding and content. What have been the changes over the last 12 months and what are the trends for the region?
5) E-commerce... still loading
How can the issue of credit card payment limitation in the region besolved? What about customs duties and the clearance issues that the industry faces? Can the luxury experience be reproduced online? What about other payment modes - can those be applied to luxury brands?
-Ends-
About Mediaquest
Mediaquest is one of the region's largest, most successful and most influential privately-owned publishing and events companies. Established in 1997, Mediaquest's mission is to inform, educate and entertain audiences across the MENA region, thereby building bridges between the Arab world and the West. Mediaquest generates a combined online and offline portfolio of more than 20 titles, covering marketing, communications, women's interests, lifestyle, entertainment and automotive. Reputed brands include: Marie Claire Arabia, Haya Magazine and Kippreport, as well as the highly regarded business-to-business titles: Trends Magazine, Gulf Marketing Review, Saneou Al Hadath, Arabies and Communicate.
Mediaquest's dedicated Dotmena network hosts 75 premium websites that attract more than 41 million unique visitors each month. Mediaquest creates, project manages and delivers some of the region's best-known industry events, including the GMR Marketing to Women Conference, Insurex and the prestigious annual Effie Mena Awards, which is recognised as a benchmark for achievement in the region's marketing sphere.
For further information, please contact:
For more information contact:
Dima Itani
MarCom Manager-Mediaquest
Phone:04 369 75 73
Email:d.itani@mediaquestcorp.com
Nesreen Bakheit
Senior Account Executive - Cicero &Bernay Public Relations
Phone: 050 -437 65 21
Email: nesreen@cbprme.com
© Press Release 2015
