DSS and DSF have transformed Dubai into a world-class retail trade centre: DCCI official

Since their inception, the Dubai Shopping Festival and the Dubai Summer Surprises have transformed Dubai into the biggest entertainment and shopping hub of the region, effecting a quantum leap in areas of retail trade, said Noha Safar, Director of the Marketing & Communications Department at DCCI.

"The Dubai government lays special focus on the retail trade sector, providing it with all necessary tools of success," she commented

The DSF and DSS are among the most effective means through which the government is buttressing up the retail trade sector, the considerable growth of which reflects positively on the national economy, she noted.

"The retail trade sector accounts for more than 50 per cent of Dubai's total trade volume," she said, expecting the total consumer spending in Dubai to shoot up to $7.6b by the year 2009, the largest such spending in all GCC states, according to the latest economic studies in this regard.

Since the launch of the DSS ten years ago, a large number of UAE locals and residents have preferred to spend their summer vacation inside the country to enjoy the exciting activities offered during the leading summer extravaganza, which, since its onset, has been enjoying considerable tourist inflows, added the official.

"Tourists now view Dubai as their favourite vacation destination," she noted, citing the increasing tourist arrivals in Dubai as the best evidence of the face-lift experienced by the Emirate which was suffering lean trade periods during the summer months before the launch of the DSS.

Commenting on how DSS has contributed to reviving the retail trade in Dubai, Noha said, "The effect has been huge so far, with these activities sprawling among more than 50 shopping centres around the Emirate. The miscellaneous entertainment shopping options offered through DSS have drawn in large numbers of tourists and residents, including children and adults alike."

"On its part, the DCCI has always been playing a prominent role in motivating retail trade outlets and stores to take part in the promotions and raffle draws offered during the big event. Over the past eight years, DCCI has spent in excess of AED 100 million in aggressive marketing campaigns tailored to create a competitive working environment that helps boost the retail trade sector, being of vital importance to the national economy," she continued.

Noha was also of the view that DSS had changed people's perception on traveling abroad during summer by organizing events and promotions to also attract tourists from around the world. "It's widely known that the trade scene in the Gulf goes through lean periods during the summer months since many expatriates leave the country for their homelands in addition to those wishing to spend their vacations abroad in Europe and Americas."

"But the situation has completely changed since the launch of the DSS 10 years ago, as the diverse entertainment and shopping options provided by this summer extravaganza have dissuaded people from fleeing the country's hot summer and convinced them of staying home to enjoy the ideal fun and pleasure options made available by the Emirate during this annual fiesta. The current massive increase in tourist inflow proves in no uncertain way the positive change the Emirate retail trade and tourism industries have witnessed since the launch of DSS," she added.

Talking on the relationship between the DCCI and the two festivals DSF and DSS, Noha stressed the fact that DCCI has been actively involved in all initiatives to promote DSF and DSS since their inception. "The DCCI has always been bent on effectively contributing to the resounding successes achieved by the two mega-events. We are always participating in all initiatives aimed at highlighting the monumental progress achieved by Dubai on all fronts," she said.

"We, on this score, motivate all private sector institutions to double their activities during the two events in order to draw the largest possible benefit from the big turnout the DSS and DSF always ensure. We believe that the more diverse the DSS and DSF activities become, the more the dividends the whole Emirate will reap. We will continue to support such activities that all reflect positively on the Emirate's economy," she added.

Noha concluded by saying that upcoming major developments in Dubai would only enhance the city's reputation as one among the most advanced cities in the world. "The fast-paced, multi-faceted development notched by Dubai at all levels will certainly reinforce its position as a unique economic, tourist and entertainment centre in the entire region. The Emirate's economic sectors have secured leaps over the first half of 2007, thanks to the launch of a large number of mega development projects, including Bawadi, Dubai Metro, Burj Dubai, and others that all crown Dubai as the region's leading economic magnet in the eyes of world investors."