Month-Long Dubai Shopping Festival Begins

The 19th edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) begins on January 2, with 70 malls and over 6,000 retail outlets participating in the event this year.

The month-long event, themed ‘Shop At Your Best’, includes a range of discounts, promotions and raffles and over 150 events and activities across the emirate.

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The event is organised by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

Laila Mohammed Suhail, CEO DFRE said: “Dubai Shopping Festival is also a key component of the emirate’s retail sector, as it accounts for 25 to 30 per cent of total annual retail sales.

“Our focus has been to make the festivities quite inclusive of different cultures that symbolise Dubai’s cosmopolitan character, as well take the events and activities to a wider audience at several key DSF destinations.”

Shoppers on the opening day of DSF will have a chance to win prizes worth half a million dirhams, through the DSF Lucky Shopper activity by Sama Dubai TV and competitions run on local radio station at malls in the city including the Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and the Dubai Festival City Mall.

On day one, one visitor will also get to claim the grand prize of the Infiniti Mega Raffle that includes two luxury Infiniti models QX60 and G25, and a cash prize of Dhs100,000, at a draw at the Global Village.

“Festivals and events play a key role in support growth of Dubai’s tourism industry,” said Helal Saeed Almarri, director-general, DTCM.

“In line with our Tourism Vision for 2020, 2014 will be a year in which we launch a range of new initiatives which will contribute to increasing visitor numbers to Dubai.”

Events during DSF include: DSF Carnival, Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil at The World Trade Centre, Carpet & Art Oasis, DSF Mega Raffles and several music and fashion shows.