Despite the regional unrest and the economic downturn in the US, Ramadan witnessed an increase in advertising expenditures compared to previous months this year, but remains lower than last year.

Gulf News reports that Dubai Newspapers represented the single largest platform for UAE advertisers by pulling in a still substantial $478 million in the first six months of 2010. However, ads in English language newspapers in the UAE have dropped 13 per cent in the first six months of the year, and the overall numbers were only held up by a 20 per cent gain recorded by the Arabic newspapers. Television accounted for $75 million and was the only media platform to record growth over corresponding 2008 figures.