Twelve key sponsors for 73 days of Dubai Summer Surprises

Announcing the key sponsors of DSS 2005 during a special gathering at Fairmount Dubai as part of Festivale Dubai being organised on April 24, he said DSS 2005 will be organised under the theme of Big Fun for Little Ones, with the active participation of leading private sector companies and government departments. "Over the years, the DSS has managed to change the profile of the season by transforming Dubai into a bustling business hub, especially during the traditionally lean summer months. This unique transformation is the result of the wise leadership and the resolve of the people working behind it from all sectors," HH Sheikh Ahmed said.

"Over the past seven years, DSS has strived to add new events and activities, making the summers so special, both for the residents and visitors alike," he said, adding that the various DSS fun themes meet the demands of children and families alike. "DSS gives families a different experience year after year, through the ever-improving choice of events and programmes,' he revealed.

"Dubai has now become a favourite destination for world-class events. Currently, the emirate is hosting the awesome enterprise of Festivale Dubai 2005, which brings the whole world to the city for a celebration of all that is good in life. Such mammoth events bring Dubai closer to the world as we get to bridge the cultural gap and exchange experiences with each other," he added.

Appreciating the strong private sector-government partnership that helps Dubai in jointly organising successful events like DSS, he announced twelve prestigious names of companies and government departments that have agreed to become the Key Sponsors of DSS 2005. "It's with great pleasure that I announce the names of the DSS 2005 Key Sponsors including the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai Properties, Emarat, Dubai Refreshments PSC, Dubai Shopping Malls Group, Emirates Telecommunications Corp -Etisalat, Majid Al Futtaim Investments, Saif Al Ghurair, Emirates Airline, MasterCard International, Al Futtaim Group, Dubai Duty Free."

HH Sheikh Ahmed also highlighted the positive role of the DSS Organising Committee behind the thumping success of the summer festival. "The Organising Committee, made up of 17 Government departments deserves a pat for taking time out of their busy schedules and to take on the added responsibility of organising and hosting the 10 theme-specific weeks of DSS2005. It's because of their hard work that the DSS has been going place over the years."

Representatives of Key Sponsors, members of the DSS Organising Committee, DSS officials and delegates to the ongoing Festivale Dubai 2005 also attended the special gathering.

Speaking on the occasion, Saeed Al Nabouda, Chief Executive Officer, DSS said that the ambitious concept of DSS, born eight years ago, has already become a colossal tourism event. "DSS is the perfect showcase for the growing concept of joint marketing, a strategy that brings together organisers and sponsors on the same stage as the sponsors become integral to the whole process," he said. "The DSS also provides an opportunity for the Government departments in showcasing their ingenuity in a completely different field of event management," he added. About 17 Government departments are busy working for the success of the 10 theme-specific weeks. Expecting a 5 per cent increase in the number of visitors and 10 per cent increase in their total spend during the 73 days long festival season, he said a number of partners like the key sponsors, hotels, shopping malls, tour operators, and retailers will offer the best bargain for visitors to DSS 2005.

DSS 2005 starts with the Dubai Municipality-organised Flower Surprises on June 22 and ends with the Dubai Development Board-organised Back-2-School Surprises on September 2. The other theme-specific weeks are the Sweets Surprises (organized by Dubai Tourism & Commerce Marketing from June 30 to July 6); Arts Surprises (organised by Dubai Naturalisation & Residency Department from July 7 to 13); Colour Surprises (organised by Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry from July 14 to 20); Ice Surprises (organised by Dubai Electricity & Water Authority from July 21 to 27); Adventure Surprises (organised by the Dubai Ports Authority from July 28 to August 3); Cartoon Surprises (organized by Department of Health & Medical Services from August 4 to 10); Heritage Surprises (organised by Dubai Customs from August 11 to 17); Knowledge Surprises (organised by the Dubai Police from August 18 to 24) and the concluding Back-2-School Surprises (organised by the Dubai Development Board from August 25 to September 2).

The DSS is also supported by the Department of Economic Development, the Islamic Affairs Department, Dubai e-Government, Dubai TV, Dubai Civil Aviation, the Land Department and Civil Defense.