Dubai decks up for Dubai Shopping Festival

Dubai decks up for Dubai Shopping Festival

Lily B. Libo-on / 3 January 2013

This years edition, which will run till February 3, will relive Dubais humble beginnings as a cluster of pearling settlements on the shores of Dubai Creek or Khor Dubai. A glittering ceremony of colourful fireworks will highlight the city skies today over the Dubai Creek. Fireworks from Al Seef Street area to the Festival Promenade will bathe the citys famous skyline in multi-coloured lights and sparkle. It will shimmer with the glow of fireworks, fantastic music and dance performances on its very waters. A variety of acrobats, jugglers, stilt walkers, clowns and other performers will perform to enthrall kids and families.

Imbued with up to 75 per cent price cuts, rewards of up to 15kg of gold, luxurious cars and Dh100,000 cash daily, the worlds most popular 32-day entertainment and shopping extravaganza will definitely carve out more unforgettable memories and life-changing moments for its lucky shoppers and visitors this year.

Laila Suhail, CEO of the Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), organisers of the DSF, told Khaleej Times that she expects DSF 2013 to be a resounding success, as once again the government and private sectors have together worked hard to ensure a rewarding experience for the millions of festival visitors: The DEPE is grateful to the private sector for extending their whole-hearted cooperation to government driven-initiatives like the DSF that has helped play a pivotal role in helping Dubai maintain its position as one of the best shopping and tourism destinations in the world.

To the DEPE, this mutual trust and collaboration between the government and private sectors has ushered Dubai to the fame of being crowned as the World Festival and Event City by the International Festival and Events Association (IFEA) for two consecutive years. Such cooperation has also generated excellent growth for the DSF since its inception in 1996.

Dubai Creek Park is decorated with flags for the opening ceremony of the DSF. KT Photo by Shihab

The DSF recorded a nine per cent increase over the previous edition and infused a windfall of Dh14.7 billion during the 2012 festival period equivalent to US$1billion per week: With an extensive line-up of activities, mega shopping-linked promotions and entertainment, we are confident that DSF 2013 will not only live up to its campaign promise of showcasing Dubai at its Best but also generate high revenues that will, in turn, give an additional boost to the citys retail sector, Suhail said.

Four locations chosen along the historic banks of Dubai Creek will come alive on the inaugural day of the DSF. These locations - the Heritage and Diving Village, Al Seef Street, the Creek Park and the Festival Promenade at Dubai Festival City - will be transformed into centres of celebration and activities during the occasion.

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Dubai decks up for Dubai Shopping Festival