According to The National, outdoor advertising spend in Dubai and Sharjah has dropped by more than 36 per cent in Q1 of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009, largely due to the withdrawal of property companies after the downturn. In the first quarter of last year, $148.4 milion was spent on advertising for billboards and other outdoor sites in the two emirates. This year, the number fell to $94.6 million, according to figures provided by Ipsos MediaCT.

The drop in spending could be even more severe because of the way the figures are collated. Advertisements that are still on display but not necessarily paid for are still included in the figures, said Elie Aoun, the MENA region managing director of Ipsos MediaCT.

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