Ahlan Dubai busy answering queries for DSF 2004

The phone service has been a reliable source of information for participants and visitors to the event for some time and this year sees new efforts to offer an even better, more effective service than ever before.

Suhaila Gobash, Corporate Services Manager, Ahlan Dubai said, " The phone service operated by Ahlan is one of the main ways by which people can gain information about the event. We get an extremely high volume of calls and we have to be experts on every area of the Festival as the enquiries we receive are so varied in their nature. For example we can provide information on how to volunteer during DSF, the House of Talents exhibition, Ideal Arab Mother and Family Awards or even how to rent a Kiosk during the event."

She continued " We have hired a new team to work at Ahlan Dubai so that we can develop and expand our service and be able to deal with the high level of demand. Last year we received more than 200,000 calls with the highest volume falling on the weekends. A large proportion of these were local but we also received an enormous amount of requests from international participants and visitors, it is important that we can offer these people the information they need to make their experience of DSF a positive one."

The service will operate extended hours after Eid from 9am-10pm, this is expected to accommodate the high volumes being received. Once the festival is underway a 24-hour service will be operated.

The phone service operated by Ahlan Dubai is not only for giving information but it is also considered to be a great way of allowing people to make suggestions and give new ideas about DSF. The service is operated in six languages including Arabic, English, Indian, French, Persian and Italian.

The telephone numbers for Ahlan Dubai and any DSF queries are 600 54 55 55 (UAE) or 00 971 600 54 55 55 (International).