Different economic sectors confirm positive impact of DSS 2007

Shopping centres, hotels, hotel apartments, in addition to foreign exchange houses and travel agencies have all been witnessing higher revenues since the start of DSS 2007.

Businessmen and shopping centre officials have voiced happiness over the outcome achieved due to DSS, and expected further gains over the coming period especially with vacationers coming back home from abroad.

Fouad Mansour Sharaf, General Manager for Mall of the Emirates, emphasized the colossal role played by DSS in furthering the retail business in Dubai. 'Most of the DSS activities are held at malls, which are the prime and most sought-after destination for the largest percentage of visitors coming to Dubai,' he said.

'Mall of the Emirates has so far attracted in excess of 2 million visitors and shoppers during the first month of DSS, registering a 10 per cent increase compared to last year.' He added that Mall of the Emirates had secured, to date, a 15 per cent increase in sales compared to the same period last year meaning total sales may hit AED one billion by the end of the DSS.

Most of the Mall's shops are offering considerable discounts of more than 60%, he added, noting that they all participate in the 'Shop and win millions' promotion organized by the Dubai Shopping Malls Group, where each person who spends AED 200 is entitled to a raffle draw whose winner would get AED 500,000 weekly, i.e., a total of AED 5 million by the end of August. 'Such valuable and enticing raffles and discounts help draw in more shoppers looking for value-for money products.'

Andreas Flückiger, the Radisson SAS Hotel General Manager, Deira Dubai Creek, said, 'DSS is one of the major events that woos a large number of tourists from abroad and from other emirates into Dubai in light of the wide array of activities and events. Our hotel hit a 100 per cent occupancy rate during the first month of the DSS, as we attracted tourists from different nationalities, both from the GCC and other countries.'

The establishment of new projects in Dubai has attracted many investors and businessmen to the Emirate, said Usama Hamza, Managing Director of Al Fardan Exchange. 'By virtue of the diverse activities offered during the DSS, many people come to explore the Emirate which is now the favourite destination to a large category of tourists worldwide especially to those coming from the GCC. Over the past couple of weeks, the exchange houses have secured a 15 per cent increase in sales compared to the same period last year.' He singled out a large-scale promotion organized by Al Fardan Exchange in cooperation with the National Sukuk Programme within the framework of the DSS.

Aqeel Badri, Chairman of Switch Electronics Co., underscored the importance of DSS in activating retail trade in Dubai, noting that Switch, which is based at Lamcy Plaza, has been enjoying a more than favourable turnout since the start of the event. 'The 4000 square-foot shop showcases more than 250 electronic products representing 35 global trademarks, including digital items, domestic appliances, PDAs, mobile phones, kitchen utensils and personal care sets,' he explained. 'Our sales increased by 15 to 20 per cent during the first month of DSS 2007 in comparison with other months of the year,' he noted.

Saeed Al Abdi, head of Al Abdi Travel & Tourism said, 'Travel agencies have been experiencing higher sales since the launch of this year's DSS, achieving a 10 per cent increase in business in comparison with the same period last year. This is generally attributed to the increasing number of visitors and tourists coming to Dubai from the Middle East, Europe, and countries that constituted the erstwhile Soviet Union. Dubai has become a key tourist magnet in the Middle East, with the DSS adding more to its attraction worldwide,' he said. He however underlined the importance of DSS launching more, new activities in order to woo visitors who need to find innovative attractions every time they visit Dubai.

'Dubai is now touted as the City of Gold all over the world, as many tourists come here to buy their jewellery, thanks to the great fame notched by the Emirate in this respect,' said Mohammed Ahmed Al Nasser, Managing Director of Al Fardan Jewellery. 'The Emirate boasts unmatched varieties of jewellery that cater to all tastes. Over and above, DSS comes to add more excitement and entertainment to the multiple attractions offered by the tourist hub of the region. The leading summer fiesta contributes to placing Dubai on top of the tourist destinations favoured worldwide.' Al Fardan jewellery secured a 15 per cent increase in sales during the first month of the DSS in comparison with the same period last year, he added, expecting further gains throughout the leading summer extravaganza.