JEDDAH, 1 December 2006 — The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) has over the years grown phenomenally to become the biggest shopping event in the world, a DSF team said yesterday. The DSF 2006-07, themed “One World, One Family, One Festival,” is being held in Dubai from Dec. 20 to Feb. 2
“The event hosts the world’s biggest gold raffle, the world’s richest luxury car raffle and many other opportunities to win prizes, aside from shopping bargains,” Ibrahim Saleh, chief operation officer of DSF, told a press conference at the Jeddah Hilton. “The entire city takes on a carnival-like atmosphere during this time, with plenty of entertainment and activities for the entire family,” Saleh said.
Highlighting the deep ties between the Kingdom and the UAE, Saleh extended an invitation to Saudi families and expatriates in the Kingdom to join the fun festivities of the DSF.
Saleh estimated that domestic spending during the DSF would increase by 12 percent to reach AED8 billion, as compared to AED6.67 billion in 2005.
Prior to the press conference, a workshop was conducted for tour operators, travel agents, rent-a-car companies, and hotels, hotel apartments, and tourist and trade companies, providing an opportunity for participants from the UAE and their local counterparts to reach agreements on the tour packages especially prepared for tourists from the GCC planning to visit the DSF.
“Our vision is to attract more than 15 million visitors to DSF by 2010,” he added. The festival this time coincides with Eid Al-Adha, Christmas, New Year and the winter school breaks.
“New entries are the Dubai balloon festival, organized by professionals from Albuquerque Fiesta in the US, kicking off with the DSF on Dec. 20 and running until Dec. 30 with the participation of over 60 balloons. And for the first time in the Middle East, Cirque du Soleil performs its internationally acclaimed Quidam act beginning Jan. 4 and running until after the end of the DSF.
Bazaars of the World will showcase developments of Islamic culture through different periods in history with workshops on crafting, painting, carpet weaving, copper engraving, etc., with the recreation of a number of historic bazaars along Al Seef Street including Khan Al Khalili, City Bazaar, Shah Bazaar and others.
The Eid Al-Adha celebrations and the Fringe Festival with its European and international performers are expected to create a stir with daily performances in the evenings at various city malls.
Dubai is witnessing remarkable improvements in the road network, as well as construction of new roads to fulfill the requirements of increasing traffic, taking into consideration the prominent economic position of Dubai as an international commercial hub. This year’s enhanced DSF will include several festivals covering world cultures, family entertainment, arts and culture, music, carnivals, fashion, sports, food, records breaking, heritage, shopping malls and raffle and winnings.
The DSF is hyped up each year with mega raffle draws offering luxury prizes, including the daily Lexus mega raffle with total prizes worth AED25 million, the daily grand Nissan raffle with total prizes valued at AED4.5 million and the daily gold raffle, which offers gold and diamond prizes worth AED4 million.
Khalid Ibrahim ibn Nassar, executive, overseas promotions at the government of Dubai’s department of tourism and commerce marketing, said: “We’re especially interested in the GCC countries, which are considered as strategic markets for the DSF.”
Maj. Omar Alshamsi, director PR, Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department (DNRD), said: “The DNRD aims to provide best services to the visitors so that they quickly get their formalities done at the airport.”
Abdul Basit Al-Suwaidi, Emirates regional manager, said the airline was the key sponsor and official carrier for the 11th time running and offered a range of hotel packages for visitors from around the world during the month-long extravaganza. Emirates offers weekly six flights from Jeddah and Riyadh to Dubai.