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Dubai Shopping Festival will be Big Hit: Organisers

Scheduled to begin on January 15, the 14^th edition of the DSF is set to open at a time of global financial turmoil, but the organisers say DSF 2009 will deliver.

Dubai looks her best during the DSF when every nook and corner of the city is lit up with over a million lights and colourful decorations.

Over 3.2 million people visited DSF 2008 with the expenditure touching Dh10 billion.

The participating retail outlets of the DSF and the various shopping malls are expecting a windfall. With the December sale already in session at the various retail outlets across the city, products are being sold at discounts of over 70 per cent.

Though they have not yet announced the promotional offers for the season, retail outlets have pledged their entire support to the DSFO (Dubai Shopping Festival Office) by lining up attractive discounts and raffle draws to lure the crowds into the shopping malls and retail outlets.

Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman of Dubai Shopping Festival Office (DSFO) Supreme Committee said the UAE economy is robust enough to ride out the current difficulties and continue to achieve good economic growth rates.

“There is a tireless endeavour to tackle the economic turmoil and hold events that can contribute to reviving several economic sectors, primarily retail trade and tourism,” he said.

“This year’s edition of DSF comes at a time when the entire world is experiencing an acute period of economic crisis with a number of leading world economies having drifted into economic recession.”

He stressed on the importance of strong partnership between the private and public sectors.

Laila Suhail, Chief Executive Officer of the DSF Office said, “The 2009 edition of DSF is laying emphasis on an exclusive period of world-class shopping and family entertainment.

“The private sector will have the major share of organising the entertainment activities, namely 70 per cent of them, while the role of the Dubai government, represented by the DSF Office, will be to plan and market these activities.”

She added that under the current financial circumstances, optimism was needed and the promotions to be launched in DSF will provide high purchasing incentives for those coming to visit Dubai during the festival where the best of world brands are at hand, besides the lure of prizes worth millions of dirhams.

The list of sponsors for this year’s edition includes some of the country’s largest private sector companies and institutions.

Dubai Retail, a member of Dubai Properties will join in with The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence, in addition to Dubai Mall, both coming on board as two new sponsors.

The Dubai Mall will be a primary venue for many of the DSF festivities and will offer promotions and entertainment throughout the festival period.

The DSFO along with the Dubai Tourism Commerce and Marketing will be launching an aggressive marketing campaign that will coincide with the beginning of DSF 2009.

The ambitious campaign is co-designed with the leading hotels in Dubai and will target different markets.

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

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