Carpet Oasis sales surge to Dhs27m in two weeks

Abdul Rahman Eesa, the head of Carpet Oasis Organizing Committee, said the venue was witnessing a significant turnout this year in terms of the type of visitors and their number, noting that the diverse activities hosted by the Oasis during DSF 2008 have attracted both adults and children, including artists who display their paintings and interact with the public in a lively atmosphere.

He expected the sales volume to hit Dhs70m by the end of DSF 2008 on February 24, with the number of mega deals between traders also expected to soar across the month-long event.

"The Carpet Oasis was launched in 1996 during DSF 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 added.

The exhibition has contributed in enlivening the economy of Dubai during the DSF since its launch twelve years ago, contributing to turning Dubai into one of the world's key centres that sell 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 revenue and trading. The area of the exhibition and the number of products exhibited have increased over the years. Currently, it 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 is around Dhs1bn.