DTCM reports overwhelming response to Dubai Shopping Festival roadshows

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.

The road shows were held in Riyadh, Al Khobar and Jeddah between December 11 and 15 and in Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain between December 17 and 19.

Mr. Ibrahim Saleh, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), addressed the road shows and interacted with the travel trade and media.

Mr. Omar Al Qurashi, DTCM Executive Overseas Promotions and Mr. Aly Al Zayat, Director, DTCM Saudi Arabia office, represented the department at the road shows

"In each of the road shows, there were presentations made about Dubai and its latest projects and statistics. A raffle was also organized to offer free trips to the tour operators and media persons at each of the road shows," said Mr. Al Qurashi.

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.

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.