DUBAI SHOPPING FESTIVAL
On February 15, 1996, the travel industry in the Middle East heralded the beginning of a new dawn – the birth of the most impressive shopping cum entertainment mega event. An entirely new concept, it succeeded brilliantly in showcasing what co-operation between private sector and public sector could do to create a mind-boggling achievement.
Initially, Dubai Shopping Festival was conceived as a pure retail event, the primary aim of which was to revitalize the retail trade in Dubai. It was later developed into a comprehensive tourism product in line with Dubai’s far-sighted stance to set global standards in every field.
Dubai Shopping Festival is basically a shopping paradise. Dubai is know around the world as such a paradise throughout the year, but they really lay out the red carpet during shopping festival month, with over 2,300 retails outlets participating, that offer everything imaginable from gold, perfume, haute couture, cars, electronics to handicrafts and revitalizes.
As months of preparations went into creating Dubai Shopping Festival, the shopping festival matured into a major retailing cum entertainment extravaganza. The rest is history.
Today, one of the biggest beneficiaries of the event is the tourism sector. Hotels, travel agents and tour operators contribute to the selling of the event worldwide and it would be fair to assume, run at the peak levels of operation during the event.
There are other events as well, including international fashion shows, children’s events, streetside performances, nightly fireworks, film festivals, and many other cultural events that reflect the emirate’s cosmopolitan character. Plus one of the biggest events of them all, the Dubai World Cup also takes place during the festival, and with a staggering US$ 12 million purse that makes it the richest horse race in the world – not something to miss.
The next DSF will witness fresh creative inputs and innovative promotions that will go a long way in
