Dubai At Its Best

“Dubai at Its Best”

“One  World. One Family. One Festival” is the slogan of the annual Dubai Shopping Festival. This world famous festival attracts millions of people from different parts of the world.  The on-going 2012 slogan is “Dubai at Its Best”. The DSF is not just about the sales, it is a festival that is fully packed with events.

The DSF started out in 1996 to boost Dubai’s economy, after being successful in its first year, it has become a one month annual event that starts in January and ends in February. From 1996 the number of visitors to the festival has been growing rapidly. The first DSF attracted 1.6 million shoppers and the number has been rising since then. Usually around 3.5 million people come for the festival each year.

“The DSF is a major event for Dubai. We planned the event in a way to attract the maximum number or people,” said Layla Suheil, the organizer of the festival.

The festival boosts up Dubai’s economy not only through retailing, but also through hotels and travelling expenses. Last year a staggering amount of Dh15.1 billion was contributed to Dubai’s economy, stated in the report by the Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment.

Around 6,000 retail outlets are participating throughout Dubai’s malls, souqs and other venues.  Different draws around the malls- is another way to attract shoppers.  The most popular prize shoppers can win is 1 million dirhams. The Dubai Mall is the largest mall of the 40 malls in Dubai.

“The Dubai Mall is offering our shoppers the opportunity to win an array of prizes that could change their lives for the better during DSF” said Nasser Rafi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Emaar Malls Group.

This year the festival welcomed more tourists from GCC nationals, Russians, Europeans and Asians. While last year most visitors came from India, Saudi Arabia and the UK.

“This is our third time in Dubai for the festival, and we meet a lot of Russians here,” said Tatyana Ivanova, a Russian tourist.

“It is the best time to go shopping with all the offers and events.”

The DSF is the busiest tourism time for Dubai. Hotels are expected to be full. The DSF is advertised in many international tourism companies abroad.

“We go to the limit in making visas for tourists during this period, and it is very tight with hotels” said Dana Karim, the manager of Sapsan Tourism company in Dubai.

The DSF is not just a shopping experience; it also attracts people with its events and offers. People enjoy the fireworks as much as the sales. Residents as well as visitors splash out and enjoy themselves, making the DSF much more than just a shopping festival.