The Dubai Shopping Festival is an annual month-long event organized by the Dubai Festivals & Retail Establishment (DFRE), which is part of Dubai’s tourist department. During the event, stores provide discounts on their merchandise, there are daily car raffles and prize drawings to win gold and cars, and there is a fireworks display. A variety of family activities and live shows are also available throughout Dubai.
HISTORY OF DUBAI SHOPPING FESTIVAL:
The Festival began on February 16, 1996 and took 45 days to complete before its debut. Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum was the inspiration for the festival. It is now in its 24th year of operation. The 24th edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival will continue for more than five weeks from 2018 to 2019, marking the festival’s longest run to date. The Dubai Shopping Festival’s motto is “One World, One Family, and one Festival.”
FESTIVITIES OF ALL KINDS:
At the Dubai Shopping Festival, several world records were set. The event in 1999 featured the world’s longest gold chain and sofa, as well as the largest chair, stationary bicycle, and mattress. The largest incense burner, shopping bag, and bowl of biriyani were on display at the festival in 2001. The largest entry visa in terms of size was given in 2002, coupled with the display of the largest magazine and box of chocolates. The largest shopping cart and calendar, as well as the longest banquet, were on show in 2004. Due to the death of Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the event was postponed and later cancelled. As part of the DSF festivities in 2013, Dubai Metro hosted the first fashion display aboard a moving train.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECONOMY
The festival was created to stimulate growth in the retail trade business in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, but it was later pushed as a tourist destination. The first Dubai Shopping Festival, held in 1996, drew over 1.5 million visitors who spent over $500 million over the one-month event. These figures have since risen, with over three million people visiting the Dubai Shopping Festival in 2009 and over two billion dollars earned. The Festival sector has been a significant contribution to Dubai’s economy, stimulating tourism and the retail market. Almost 700 brand names and 3000 stores will have participated in the most recent festival, which ran from 2018 to 2019.
OTHER ACTIVITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT AT DUBAI SHOPPING FESTIVAL:
Cuisine Dubai is proven to be a fantastic gastronomic destination. Gastronomes will have a great time in Dubai, whether they are eating local specialties and street cuisine in the souks, food trucks delivering new and homegrown favorites, or enjoying a multi-course dinner at the city’s greatest restaurants. There will also be plenty of open-air entertainment at unique DSF marketplaces.
Explore the city.
Even if you’re merely visiting to look for deals, the city has a lot more to offer. Some of the must-see attractions in Dubai are the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Museum, Al Fahidi District, Sheikh Saeed Al-Maktoum Palace, Dubai World Trade Tower, Jumeirah Mosque, and Dubai Frame.
Conclusion:
Although the incentives and discounts are valid throughout the month, you can’t blame the establishments for rewarding early birds. Make a plan. Create a basic list of what you must buy and plan your trip appropriately. Learn about and investigate the best places to get them. Purchases made on the spur of the moment can be made afterwards. This is especially important if you are just in town for a few days.
