Dubai, the eighth and final emirate of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the Arabian Peninsula, is the pride of this Middle Eastern country. Dubai, affectionately dubbed as the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” has evolved significantly from its humble beginnings as a small Bedouin village to become one of the world’s most visited cities.
Even though Dubai is well-known for its artificial wonders, breathtaking skyline, and oil supplies, the Dubai Shopping Festival is one of the first names that comes to mind when the subject of Dubai or shopping is brought up. Why? The most obvious explanation is that the Dubai shopping festival is hosted on an extensive worldwide scale and draws travelers from all over the world who want to take part in it. There are numerous other reasons to visit and see the Dubai shopping festival activities that make it a must-go event. Please continue reading.
Facts and figures regarding the Dubai Shopping Festival to consider
Renowned brands
Now in its 20th year of operation, the Dubai Shopping Festival, also known as DSF, has successfully managed to attract increased traffic, incredible deals, discounts, and promotions, as well as a variety of internationally renowned brands under one roof.
The Dubai Shopping Festival, which draws over 3 million visitors from around the world simply for the occasion, is more than a shopping event in and of itself. The tourism business in Dubai contributes to making DFS a more memorable experience.
Family-Friendly Tourism
The Dubai Shopping Festival was established to promote Dubai as a family-friendly tourism and shopping destination and ignite a sense of worldwide celebration throughout the city. Another goal of the festival was to draw attention to the fact that the city is cosmopolitan.
The first Dubai Shopping Festival, held in 1996, was widely regarded as a watershed moment in the promotion of Dubai as a tourism destination around the world, attracting over 1.6 million visitors from all over the world and generating a total expenditure of over AED 2.15 billion.
Attract Globally
The Dubai Shopping Festival was established to attract global attention and interest to the country’s foray into and drive towards the hospitality and tourism sectors. The goal was to relieve the strain on the country’s oil supply, which is critical to the country’s economic stability.
Since its start in 1995, the Dubai shopping festival activities have been meticulously planned and strategically conducted, with every detail meticulously considered and implemented. It was strategically timed to coincide with the holiday season and meticulously executed, leaving no opportunity for error.
Massive Tourist Industry
The vast and unparalleled success of the first Dubai Shopping Festival paved the way for the entire expansion of Dubai’s massive tourist industry. It encouraged the private sector to play a crucial role in the overall development of Dubai as a tourism destination in the years to come.
The success of the first DSF brought attention to the unique business model of public-private sector collaborations, which served as a solid foundation for the general development of tourism in the city.In recent years, the Dubai Shopping Festival has established itself as the world’s must-see family destination, providing something to please visitors of all ages.
As part of an effort to provide visitors to Dubai during the Dubai Shopping Festival with a sense of being treated like royalty, travelers were given a ‘Maharaja’ greeting upon arrival at Dubai International Airport. This out-of-the-ordinary act left a lasting impression on the attendees’ minds and served as a kick-off to the festival.
Bottom Line
The Dubai Shopping Festival is much more than just a shopping carnival; it is also a cultural event. Back in 1996, when Dubai tourism was still in its infancy, and there were only three malls in the city, the success of DSF demonstrated Dubai’s ability to organize events on such a vast scale and turn them into a resounding success for the entire region.
The Dubai Shopping Festival has set a precedent for arranging a shopping festival on an international scale and has done it in numerous ways. DSF has grown into a global phenomenon over the past 20 years, offering everything from significant discounts to excellent bargains and introducing the hottest global brands.