Dubai Shopping Festival
Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) started on February 15, 1996 as a retail event intended to revitalise retail trade in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It has since been promoted as a tourist attraction. This yearly month long event is usually scheduled during the first quarter of the year, attracting about 3 million people to Dubai. It is the region’s largest and longest running shopping and entertainment extravaganza.
Dubai Shopping Festival has had around 35 million visitors since 1996, who have spent close to Dh74 billion in shopping malls, airlines, hotels and entertainment outlets. In 2009 alone, visitors reached the 3.35 million mark and spent Dh9.8 billion in 32 days of the festival. During Dubai Shopping Festival, shops offer deep discounts on their merchandise, daily car raffles are drawn, and fireworks light Dubai’s night sky. Tourists from all around the world are lured not only for Dubai’s tax free shopping, but also for all of the events that take place during the festival. In 2006, the festival was cancelled due to the death of Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. In addition to Dubai Shopping Festival, Dubai also hosts Dubai Summer Surprises.
Dubai shopping festival was segregated into many major attractions all with one purpose, to have as many ways of entertaining the guests to the city, and catering to each and every individual segment’s visiting from around the world, the loyalty of the local expatriate populations definitely finds a reason to become even more attached to the city that brings to them their own culture every year.
The dates of Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) 2011 has been announced. The annual DSF 2011 will commence from 20 January 2011 and its closing ceremony will be held on 20 February 2011. The 32-day long shopping event will attract millions of bargain hunters from across the globe who will win millions of DH in prizes in daily draws. Tourists can enjoy tax free shopping as well as heavy discounts on a wide range of items including jewelry, cars, perfumes, textiles, handicrafts and electronics items as shops and malls try to outdo each other in sells. The DSF is also known for its colorful events ranging from Jazz to cartoon shows and circus to dance shows offering wholesome family entertainment. The theme of the DSF is One World One Family One Festival where participating countries set up their pavilions in Global Village.
Dubai Shopping Festival is a celebration time for shopping lovers who thronged to this charming and scintillating city from across the globe. One can shop for the imported items like watches, perfumes, jewelry by leading world-renowned brands at a discount of 5 % to 50 %. The tax free discounted rates are not the only attraction of Dubai Shopping Festival, as you can win fabulous free gifts, bargain offers and raffle tickets. Dubai has rapidly emerged as the tourist capital of the Middle East and in the effort shopping in Dubai has been made largely tax free and merchants have been allowed to import products from other countries with very low or no custom duties.
Besides the shopping, a number of entertaining events take place at colorful DSF for children as well as grown ups. You can participate with your family in the Cartoon Shows featuring Pokemon, Casper, Tarzan, Toon Land, Alligator and Dolphin; Fashion Week, Global Village; Carpet Oasis, Al Rostamani Aqua Fantasia and Children of the World Olympiad. Circus shows are other attraction of DSF 2011. Besides the heart touching Jazz and dance performance make you spellbound. Dining is also a major attraction of DSF where gourmets can satisfy their taste buds from delicious cuisines from all corners of the world.
Sports lovers can also participate in sporting events including Open Tennis Championship, Hockey on Synthetic Surface, Ice Hockey, Football Tournament, Russian Ballet on Ice, and Skating and Rowing Championships.
Dubai Shopping Festival is not all about bargained shopping, but it also organizes a wide range of special events like business conventions, seminars, exhibitions, book fairs and Hope Opera for the Handicapped. The fascinating festival comes to an end with extravagently magnificent closing ceremonies. With so much to offer, Dubai Shopping Festival 2011 promises to be a truly memorable shopping expereince for you and your loved ones.
Dubai Shopping Festival plays a vital role in Dubai’s tourism industry. Apart from the direct impact it has on the tourism industry, Dubai Shopping Festival also contributes its share of importance into the nervous system of the emirate. With the rise of the number of visitors to Dubai for Dubai Shopping Festival, lots of potential immigrant talent and investment get to experience the luxury of Dubai.
