As the 23rd edition of Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) enters its home stretch, key economic sectors in Dubai have reported improved performance in the first half of the festival, creating the perfect momentum for businesses in Dubai at the beginning of the year.

Malls and retail outlets in Dubai have registered an increase in sales and footfall during the first half of DSF while other sectors such as airlines and financial services are also seeing an upswing in business during DSF, which is organized by  the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism).

Commenting on this business impact, Ahmed Al Khaja,  Chief Executive Officer, DFRE, said:  “We are pleased with the initial feedback that we have received from our stakeholders on the impact of Dubai Shopping Festival on their businesses. Indeed, these positive economic indicators for the first half of DSF augur well for the remaining period of the festival. This goes to prove how crucial DSF is to Dubai’s retail and ancillary sectors and is further evidence of Dubai’s position as a leading retail destination offering unique shopping experiences.  That the festival has already achieved a great measure of success  at its halfway stage is also testimony to the spirit of collaboration and support extended to DFRE by our key partners and other government departments and private sector establishments.”

DSF, which started on 26 December, runs until 27 January. DFRE and its strategic partners, key sponsors and trade entities collaborate each year to ensure that the citywide extravaganza offers residents and visitors enriching shopping experiences, the chance to win life-changing prizes and access to a range of family-oriented entertainment. The current edition of DSF features a number of themed retail promotions, events and activations while thousands of retail outlets have added to the shopping excitement by offering amazing deals including discounts of between 25% to 75% on a range of merchandise.

DFRE’s strategic partners are Emirates, The Dubai Mall, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, AW Rostamani Group, Al Futtaim Group (Dubai Festival City), Nakheel Malls (Ibn Battuta Mall, Dragon Mart 1, Dragon Mart 2), Dubai Duty Free, ENOC, Al Zarooni Group (Mercato), Meraas and Etisalat. The key sponsors of DSF 2018 are Visa, Emirates NBD and Jumbo Group, while key trade entities that support DSF are Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group and Dubai Shopping Malls Group.

Emirates sees considerable increase in traffic

Sheikh Majid Al Mualla – Divisional Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, Centre said, “Emirates has seen a considerable amount of traffic into Dubai during this period. Along with a steady stream of visitors from the UK, USA, France, Spain and Australia, we have also seen an increase of visitors from Russia, Pakistan, Netherlands and Egypt. Regionally, it has also been great to see a surge in visitors from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. While we expect the festival to attract more visitors from around the world in the weeks to come before its conclusion, it is evident that the DSF’s worldwide appeal is growing every year, and Emirates is proud to connect shopping enthusiasts across the globe to yet another iconic event in Dubai.”

Malls register 10 % increase in footfall Dubai Festival City

Steven Cleaver, Director – Shopping Malls, Al Futtaim Group Real Estate, said: “Dubai Shopping Festival 2018 has been one of the most successful to date at Dubai Festival City Mall, as we have seen a 10% year-on-year increase in footfall. In support of Dubai Tourism’s initiative, each year we look to bring something even better and more exciting for our visitors to give them a unique experience. With the first ever Paddington World, our new Festival Wheel at Festival Bay, special Star Wars IMAGINE shows every night, combined with offers from 400 participating retailers as well as the chance to win our grand prize, a 2018 Jeep Cherokee and weekly iPhone Xs, we have had a hugely positive response.”

Nakheel Malls (Ibn Battuta Mall, Dragon Mart 1, Dragon Mart 2)

Omar Khoory, Managing Director of Nakheel Malls, said: “We have witnessed a very successful Dubai Shopping Festival 2018 so far. Our unique offerings and promotions at Ibn Battuta Mall and Dragon Mart have boosted visitor numbers by nearly 10 percent compared to last year, and we expect this to continue as we head into the last phase of the festival. DSF continues to retain its allure as the No. 1 event on Dubai’s annual retail calendar. We are proud to be a part of it and contribute to enhancing the retail landscape of Dubai.”