Twenty local and international corporates participate in DSF 2004 as key sponsors

Speaking on behalf of HH Sheikh Ahmed, Saeed Mohammed Al Nabouda, CEO, Dubai Shopping Festival, announced at a press conference the names of the international and local companies who will provide partnership to Dubai Shopping Festival 2004. Al Nabouda said, "Within UAE, Dubai is now at a focal point of leadership in hosting big events such as the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and IMF last September and DSF, which, in its own special way, enhances Dubai's reputation in hosting international events. Under the leadership of HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, UAE has achieved an impeccable reputation of creating colossal events that achieves success in attracting investors and visitors from all over the world."

Dubai Shopping Festival 2004 will be held from January 15 to February 15, 2004 on the theme "One World, One Family, One Festival". The twenty key sponsors of DSF 2004 are Dubai Duty Free, Al Futtaim, Paris Gallery, Spinneys, Visa International, Emaar Properties, Emirates Airlines, Deira City Centre, Emirates Bank, MashreqBank, Jumbo Electronics, Dubai Festival City, Al Rostamani Group, Al Habtoor Group, ENOC/EPPCO, Dubai Refreshments Pepsi, Gold and Jewellery Group, BurJuman Centre, Abdul Rahim Mohammed Abdulghozooz Al Zarooni and Etisalat.

The event was attended by businessmen, representatives of key sponsors, key government officials and the media.

Addressing the audience on behalf of HH Sheikh Ahmed, Al Nabouda lauded the figures of growth that Dubai had achieved in the tourist and economic sectors as milestones that have made it an international city, comparable on all parameters to all the developed cities in the world.

"Dubai Shopping Festival is considered an creditable example of an event created in an ideal format, combining the strong points of the public and private sectors. Capitalising on a highly developed infrastructure, the Festival has evolved from strength to strength through the different creative activities that meet the expectations of different groups," Al Nabouda said.

"The impact of this impressive co-operation between the private and the public sector is not just restricted to the business segment, but has significant impact on the local community as well through the humanitarian aspects of Dubai Shopping Festival."

"Furthermore, DSF has always played a pioneering role in originating new ideas that lead to ground breaking tourism concepts for the UAE - another reason why DSF manages to attract visitors and companies who are eager to sponsor the event," said Saeed Al Nabouda, on behalf of His Highness. "Moreover, now in its ninth year, the Festival has achieved a level of maturity and professionalism that increases the participation of business, cultural, social communities and provides an oasis where societies from different nationalities can interact."

Complimenting Dubai's reputation as a dynamic tourism destination, Saeed Al Nabouda, speaking on behalf of HH Sheikh Ahmed, said, "Dubai Shopping Festival has narrowed the gap between tourism and business by providing a platform where they work together in a way that satisfies the visitors and the investors in what is now considered a trademark event that promotes Dubai."

"The line-up of twenty sponsors is the biggest since the start of Dubai Shopping Festival and this showcases the trust the sponsors place in us. This year they join us with an unmatchable zeal; a direct indicator of the quality of events and promotions one can expect in DSF 2004, eventually helping us to make another giant leap forward," he added.

The ninth Dubai Shopping Festival will feature several new activities and events that match the high quality standards, consistent with Dubai's numerous projects. Moreover, the increase in the number of key sponsors to twenty will be reflected in the development of the event to a new level. The different communities, whether economic, social, or cultural involved in the event would receive opportunities to fully participate in it.