SanDisk Starts Selling Flash Cards and Accessories in the Middle East; Signs Major Retail Distributor Ahmed Abdulwahed Trading Company

Business Wire, Oct 14, 2002

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

DUBAI, U.A.E.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 14, 2002

SanDisk Corporation (Nasdaq:SNDK) announced today that it has signed a master distribution agreement with Ahmed Abdulwahed Trading Company, one of the largest photography distributors in the Middle East, and started selling products in that region. The announcement was made at the GITEX 2002 trade show in Dubai where SanDisk is demonstrating products in Hall No. 2, J2-5.

The driving force behind SanDisk's expansion into the Middle East is the growing popularity of mobile phones, digital cameras, hand held computers, digital video cameras, MP3 players and other mobile devices that use removable storage cards to store digital images, video, music files and data.

"SanDisk is a recognized brand that represents exceptional quality and compatibility to the consumer," said Yaser Abdulwahed, general sales manager of Ahmed Abdulwahed Trading Co. "We are pleased to establish a close relationship with SanDisk at this time since the consumer electronics revolution is just starting in the Middle Eastern countries (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Yemen, Jordan, Egypt, etc.) and this represents a significant opportunity for both us and SanDisk."

Gerrit Van Hofwegen, SanDisk's EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) sales director, said, "The Ahmed Abdulwahed Trading Company has a proven record of success in distributing electronic and photographic products in the Middle Eastern markets to key retailers for more than a decade. Consumers will soon see our storage cards, card readers and card adapters on store shelves around this region."

SanDisk's line of flash memory cards, in capacities ranging from 16 megabytes to one gigabyte, includes CompactFlash(R), Memory Stick(R), MultiMediaCards, SD Cards and SmartMedia(TM). The company also offers a full range of card readers and adapters.

Ahmed Abdulwahed Trading Company has 42 years' experience in marketing, sales and distribution of multi-national brands that provide advanced and high quality products to the Middle East market. Presently it represents products for more than 20 multi-national companies and is considered among the best and well-known companies in the field of photography, digital imaging, electronics, audio and video equipment.

SanDisk, the world's largest supplier of flash data storage products, designs, manufactures and markets industry-standard, solid-state data, digital imaging and audio storage products using its patented, high density flash memory and controller technology. SanDisk is based in Sunnyvale, Calif.

The matters discussed in this news release contain forward looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties as described under the caption, "Factors That May Affect Future Results" in the company's annual report on Form 10-K-A and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The companies assume no obligation to update the information in this release.

For more information or images on SanDisk and its products, contact:

Press Room: www.sandisk.com/press

Card Photos: www.sandisk.com/cards

Reader Photos: www.sandisk.com/readers

For more information on regional distributors, contact:

Saudi Arabia: Ahmed Abdulwahed Trading Co., Tel: 00966-2-6425 777 or ahmed@abdulwahed-photo.com

U.A.E.: Grand Stores LLC, Tel: 00971 4 2823700 or gsdvbai@emirates.net.ae

Bahrain: United Horizon Photo Co., W.L.L, Tel: 00973 715454 or uhpeco@batelco.com.bh

Qatar: Salam Studio & Stores, Tel: 00974 4832050 or ph@salam.com

CompactFlash is a registered trademark of SanDisk Corp. All other trade names are either registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.