Carpet Oasis sales hit Dhs10m during first week of DSF 2008

Abdul Rahman Eesa, Head of the Carpet Oasis Organizing Committee, expected the sales volume to hit Dhs 70 m by the end of the DSF 2008 on February 24th, with the number of mega deals between traders also expected to snowball across the month-long event.

"Carpet Oasis was launched in 1996 in the inaugural DSF edition and in the previous years, the exhibition has featured premium carpet manufacturers and antique exhibitors from around the world. The exhibition has been growing in fame and is today one among the renowned handmade carpet exhibitions in the world. The quality of the products and the number of participants are testimony to the growing popularity of the event," said Eesa.

"Up to 50 local, regional and international handmade carpet manufacturers showcasing more than 100,000 pieces of their premium products made of wool, silk and other high quality materials are participating in this year's DSF," he said.

The exhibition has effectively contributed to Dubai's economy during the past DSF editions, transforming the city into one of the world's key centres of production and sale of handmade carpets. All goods are offered at reasonable prices that are usually less than those found in the original markets from which these carpets come.

The exhibition is one among the major events held during the Shopping Festival and it has shown a huge growth in terms of trading volume and revenues. The exhibition area and the number of products exhibited have also increased over the years. It currently covers a massive space of 12,000 square metres and contains around 100,000 carpets from around the world, including exquisite pieces from Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, and East Europe. The total value of the exhibits reaches a massive Dhs1bn.

The Carpet Oasis is a centre for making trade deals, and the exhibition attracts thousands of visitors every year who are keen on buying beautifully woven carpets from different regions of the world.