DTCM embarks on DSF-2006 roadshows in AGCC states

The 11th edition of the shopping festival --that helped change the contours of retailing and tourism sectors in the region and beyond --will start on January 4 and run until February 4, 2006.

A pre-event meeting was held at the DTCM Head Office in the presence of Mr. Khalifa Ali Buamaim, DTCM Manager Overseas Promotions and attended by Mr. Saeed Al Nabouda, DSF CEO and 33 co-participants for the roadshows.

The roadshows will be held in Riyadh, Al Khobar and Jeddah between December 11th and 15th and in Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain from December 17th to 19th.

Addressing the pre-event meeting, Mr. Al Nabouda said :

"It is important for us to attract greater number of visitors from the AGCC countries during the DSF- 2006 The road shows will go a long way in creating awareness about the latest additions to Dubai's much-celebrated shopping festival. The AGCC states accounts for sending a record number of its nationals and residents to the annual festival."

Dubai has been getting overwhelming response from the Arabian Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC) states over the years. There has been a significant year-on-year increase in the volume of trade and visitors between AGCC member-states and Dubai.

The AGCC investment in Dubai's real estate and tourism sector is huge and strongly reflects the high status and credibility that Dubai enjoys here.

In 2004, Dubai hotel establishments received more than five million guests in total. Out of this more than 490,000 guests came from Saudi Arabia, 168,268 from Kuwait, 113,580 from Bahrain and 70,267 from Qatar. Over 209,000 guests came from Oman.

Mr. Buamaim said: "The roadshows conducted jointly by the DTCM and the Dubai Shopping Festival, is in line with the Dubai government's mission to promote the emirate as the ultimate leisure and shopping destination and to draw larger number of tourists from these countries."

The DTCM will be represented by Mr. Omar Al Qurashi, Executive Overseas Promotions. The road shows being supported by 33 organizations from the private sector.

The department has been in the forefront of supporting the DSF and its activities. The DSF has made giant strides in the last 10 years, helping the overall development of the country.

The DSF-2005 registered a total visitor participation of a record 3.3 million and overall expenditure of AED6.67 billion compared to 2004.