Business Booms During Dubai Shopping Festival

Retail, tourism, hospitality and ancillary services sectors report excellent growth in first half of DSF 2013

The 18th edition of Dubai Shopping Festival has given a strong shot in the arm to businesses in Dubai with the retail, the tourism, hospitality and ancillary service sectors all reporting excellent growth and projecting positive economic indicators in the first half of the 32-day festival.

Leading malls, retail groups, international brands and hotels, as well as travel operators, exchange houses and many other support services have been making the most of DSF 2013, which has been attracting tens of thousands of residents and visitors from around the world since it got underway on January 3rd.

One of the most significant beneficiaries of the Festival, which ends on February 3rd, are the outlets belonging to the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group, which have achieved an overall sales figure of AED 134.5 million at the half-way stage of DSF 2013 while the overall sales volume grew by an exceptional 52 % during the first half of DSF compared to the previous year.

Meanwhile, the tempting hotel packages and deals have led to the city’s hotels registering high occupancy rates, exhibiting a huge interest being generated amongst the visitors during the festive month. Further, shopping malls have reported a sharp increase in footfall while for electronics retailers, DSF 2013 has proved to be a roaring success with sales growth showing great promise, especially in categories like smartphones and tablets. Positive performances are also reported in ancillary services like banks and exchange houses.

Commenting on the good showing across the business sectors, HE Laila Mohd Suhail, CEO of Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), an agency of the Department of Economic Development and organisers of DSF, said: “Dubai Shopping Festival continues to be a catalyst for economic growth as seen by the positive economic indicators that have emerged after the first half of the festival. In the current global market scenario, these figures are particularly laudable. For this, I must thank all our Strategic Partners and Key Sponsors without whom the Festival could not have made such progress. Indeed, the excellent sales growth across the various business sectors shows that the close cooperation between the Government departments and the private sector has succeeded beyond expectations. No doubt, DSF has stimulated economic activity in Dubai and continues to help maintain the city’s global status, a position that was endorsed recently when it was crowned as the “World Festival and Event City’ by the International Festivals and Events Association for the second successive year.

Mr. Ibrahim Saleh, Festivals Coordinator General (DEPE), said: “With its wide array of world-class infrastructure, iconic landmarks and a variety of other top quality facilities and services for visitors, plus the determination and unflagging spirit to push beyond boundaries of excellence, Dubai has propelled itself to great heights on the world stage and become one of the best shopping and tourism destinations in its own right. In this context, the Dubai Shopping Festival adds extra value to the overall offering that Dubai gives residents and visitors during this festive period. Dubai Shopping Festival has lived up to its promise of showcasing “Dubai at Its Best” by staging the most exciting activities, mega promotions and live shows for the whole family inspired by the theme One World, One Family, One Festival, the combination of which has made it the best shopping festival in this part of the world. While we are confident that the concluding two weeks of the Festival will further increase the number of visitors and sales in the business sectors, the DEPE would like to invite all residents and visitors to participate in the excitement of DSF in the final half of the festival to ensure that they carry home more everlasting moments of Dubai and DSF”. 

Emirate:  Dubai

Date: Jan 22, 2013

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