Dec 26, Mumbai: Details of the 17^th edition of Dubai Shopping Festival were unveiled in a glittering ceremony at Mumbai. The most awaited shopping extravaganza in the world, DSF 2012 is being promoted under the slogan ‘Dubai at its Best’, and will see the participation of more than 6000 retail outlets and around 70 shopping malls. Discounts and sales promotions that lead up to 75% off on a wide range of goods and services will also be on offer this year.

Announcing the details of DSF 2012, Mr. Farhad Mohammed Ali, Director of Brand Development and Innovation at Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), the government entity that organizes Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), remarked that Dubai Shopping Festival is more than shopping, winning, and family entertainment. “The whole city will wear a festive look with performances, colourful displays and range of spectacular activities and have something on offer for every member of the family. It will also contain numerous shows, carnivals, street performers, jugglers and concerts by some of the best known international artists and bands.”

Starting from January 05 and going on till February 05, DSF 2012 will be set on an unprecedented scale. Besides cash prizes worth AED 3.5m this year, 32 Infiniti QX56 luxury cars, 32 Nissan cars, and 19 kilograms of Gold will be given away to DSF participants. To add to the excitement, three additional winners will each walk away with the Infiniti QX56 and AED 100,000 on the last day of DSF 2012.    

Speaking on India’s contribution to DSF, Mr. Farhad Mohammed Ali said that expatriate Indians are a vibrant part of UAE’s society and that Indian visitors constitute a significant segment of the total international visitors to DSF. “We are delighted to be here in India’s financial capital to present the details of the exciting 17^th edition of Dubai Shopping Festival. Through our ambitious marketing campaign this year that runs under the slogan “Dubai at its Best”, we are opting to highlight the fact that during the festival all entities and individuals come together to present their best offerings for the visitors. Dubai will be opening its arms for shoppers and tourists from across the world, and the festivities will spread across the city for every one to enjoy.”

The Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group also announced their raffle promotion of prizes totalling 19 kilograms of gold beside the Diamond Scratch ‘n’ win promotion with total cash prizes estimated at AED 2 million. “We want to offer shoppers something very special for DSF 2012,” said Anan Fakhreddin, Chairman, Gold & Jewellery Group. “Dubai has developed a well-deserved reputation as the City of Gold, and prizes like this add to the excitement of buying gold and jewellery in Dubai.”

Meanwhile, Emirates, the award winning international airline from the UAE and a strategic partner of DEPE for 2012 has announced special packages for DSF 2012. Travellers from Mumbai can participate in DSF for Rs. 19995/-. The package will include return airfare, four nights accommodation, buffet breakfast, airport transfer and meet and assist on arrival. Special packages are also on offer from Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, and Ahmedabad.

“It is indeed our honour and privilege to be associated with the fun-filled extravaganza that is, the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) again, this year. Every year, Emirates supports the DSF in encouraging people to visit the Emirate of Dubai. The DSF highlights the excellent amenities available and is responsible for putting Dubai on the world stage and attracting a large volume of visitors each year. This is an excellent opportunity for shoppers and we are confident a large number of families will visit the city this year, too,” said Mr. Orhan Abbas, Vice President, India and Nepal, Emirates.

About Dubai Shopping Festival:

Dubai Shopping Festival was launched in 1996 under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, to position Dubai as a leading tourist destination and to stimulate the economic and tourism sectors in the city.

The DSF slogan ‘One World. One Family. One Festival’ embodies the very essence of the festival and its aim of celebrating life across nations, race, religion, and language. Spectacular entertainment events await visitors in addition to shopping promotions across the city and amazing opportunities to win luxury cars, cash, and gold, all through the festival.   

Hosting more than 200 nationalities, Dubai is a regional shopping hub that caters to various and ranging tastes of shoppers from across the world. There are around 70 shopping malls across the city, each with its own and unique shopping experience. You could shop for international brands at a mall and cross the street to find yourself bargaining to take home some of the best spices and other goods.