HH Sheikh Ahmed announces dates for Dubai Shopping Festival 2008

To be held for a period of 32 days, DSF 2008 will commence on January 24, 2008 and run till February 24, presenting the finest festive experience in the region.

HH stated that the upcoming edition of DSF is designed to stand out as a full-fledged festive season on its own, thus laying emphasis on an exclusive period of world-class shopping and family entertainment. Every edition strived to better the previous one and this year would be no different, said HH, adding that the different scheme for DSF 2008 was thoughtfully laid out to meet the high expectation of visitors to Dubai.

Tracing the growth of DSF as an event that laid the stone for innovation in the festival industry, HH said,

"The overwhelming success and the achievements accomplished by DSF over the years have made it possible to set the ground for a vibrant entertainment industry in the region. It has set new standards for family entertainment along with a diversified spectrum of events that have combined to become a catalyst in the growth witnessed by the economy, and especially by the tourism sector. The popularity of DSF can be gauged in that it has been the role model for burgeoning regional entertainment ventures to emulate, apart from attracting multi-billion dollar entertainment based projects into UAE."

Citing the ability of UAE's entertainment industry in attracting visitors, HH said, "A massive pool of local organising talent formed from experiences over the years and the advanced status of the entertainment industry in UAE are going to play a crucial role in attracting tourists and visitors into the country."

While emphasising strongly on the importance of fostering the continuation of DSF and developing the festival by capitalising on the fast economical and social growth of Dubai, HH expected DSF to continue witnessing major changes in the coming years in order to elevate its position in the global festival industry that will in turn make Dubai the most popular and sophisticated tourist destination in the world by the end of this decade.

DSF 2006-2007 posts record growth figures
On the other hand, the DSF Office recently revealed key statistics for DSF 2006-2007. During the 45 days of non-stop festivities, Dubai welcomed an overwhelming 3.5 million visitors, registering a 7 per cent increase over DSF 2005. The combined edition also witnessed a massive visitor spending to the tune of AED 10.2 billion, marking a sharp increase of 53 per cent over DSF 2005.

Various factors such as the duration of the event, attractive shopping promotions and international events across the city of Dubai contributed in attaining an exceptionally high figure of AED 10.2 billion.

The overall success of the event can also be attributed to other factors that included the festive season that ran through the event, in addition to an aggressive marketing and advertising strategy, coupled with a dedicated media centre that communicated the key messages to regional and international media.

Officials in the DSF Office stated that the fast paced developments within Dubai have compelled the Office to elevate its efforts to go along with the overall advancements being made by the city. In this regard, the DSF team is fully prepared to plan DSF events keeping in mind the world-class nature of entertainment and other projects that will take shape in the coming years.

The coming edition of Dubai Shopping Festival will focus on key three elements that have come to characterise the event - shopping, winning, and family entertainment. DSF 2006-2007 was a combined 11th and 12th edition and presented double the celebrations, excitement, and provided increased opportunities for shopping and entertainment.