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Harry Potter fans in UAE scramble for new book
"Five... four... three... two... one," the crowd chanted in chorus. It might have been a new year's eve party; a party it was but of a different nature. The place was Book Plus at Dubai's Lamcy Plaza and as the clock struck midnight it signalled the start of the sale of the new Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Hundreds of Potter fans squeezed around the dedicated cash register at Book Plus to get their copy of the much awaited book. One hundred numbered coupons were issued to customers on a first-come-first-served basis, as a person's number was called out he went to the cash register, made the payment and got his copy of the book. Customers who could not get a coupon had to stand in queue for their copies.
The queue was long and the total number of copies in stock at the outlet did not exceed 300. Muralidharan V.K., the manager of Book Plus, said 110 copies were sold out between midnight and 1am, when the shop was closed. The remaining 190 copies at the outlet were sold yesterday morning.
"Friday morning we received over 1,000 calls from customers who wanted to know when they could come to buy the book," said Mr Muralidharan.
"We are required to start selling the book as off June 21, no sooner, so we decided to stay open until 1am to serve our customers."
The sale of the new Harry Potter started at the Dubai International Airport Duty Free at 3.03am, which coincided with its worldwide launch. Travellers were happy to get a chance to snap up copies of the book and began to queue up for the book well before the 3.03am deadline. Within three hours, 60 copies were sold. Brisk sale of the book continued throughout the day as young travellers persuaded their parents to buy them, the ultimate in-flight reading material.
The scene at Book Plus in Lamcy was one of jubilant chaos as excited teenagers jumped for joy at being among the first in the world to lay their hands on J.K. Rowling's newest masterpiece, the fifth instalment of the Potter saga.
The fever also gripped Magrudy's books store at the Deira City Centre, as large crowds began to gather 20 minutes before 5pm, the advertised time for start of the book's sale.
Magrudy's was transformed in the evening into Hogwarts School Fete. Screaming Mandrakes, Find the Golden Snitch, Ghastly Potions, Wand Making, Henna and Mad Scientists, were among some of the stalls and fun on offer yesterday at Magrudy's. There was also a fancy dress competition for those who came dressed as their favourite Harry Potter character as well as a magic show for children.
Toys R' Us in Dubai sold 245 limited edition copies of the new Harry Potter book yesterday, starting from 10am. By the afternoon, they were sold out. The limited edition copies were sold at cost price of Dh69, but the store does not have plans to sell any more of the book at the same low price today. The book which was launched yesterday morning sold out quickly in the capital and for the next supply young readers have to wait a couple of days, booksellers said.
In Abu Dhabi, Toys 'R'us put on for sale the fifth edition of Harry Potter series, new version Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which already created ripples before its launch.
Sales opened up at 10am and by afternoon the all stock was finished, said a salesman. The same was the case at the outlets in Sharjah, an official of the Al-Futtaim Sons, told this reporter.
Though, there were no long queues, as has been a phenomenon in the West, where people camp outside bookstores before launch to buy at the first day sale, quite a large number of young customers thronged the store to buy the best seller that has hit the book stores worldwide.
The company did not disclose figures of the sales on the first day. But, sales staff were seen writing the names of interested customers for getting their orders confirmed and contacting them when new supply arrived.
Company officials said it would take three days for the shipment to arrive, after which readers would get the world's most sought-after piece of children's literature. Those fortunate bookworms, who managed to get the edition, were seen browsing through the pages as if they wanted to finish the book at one go.
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