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We asked Salem Al Ghurair, chief executive of Al Ghurair City, why DSS is so good for Dubai
Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) has helped turn the UAE's hot summer months into a vibrant season for businesses thanks to the influx of tourists and visitors, Salem Al
Ghurair, chief executive of Al Ghurair City, tells tabloid!
How do you view the future of retail trade in Dubai?
Retail trade in Dubai is contributing immensely to positioning the emirate as one of the world's major commercial centres. Shopping malls like Al Ghurair City have played a major role in diversifying the economy of the country, particularly Dubai, by contributing to government initiatives such as Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) and DSS, which have greatly strengthened the economy.
Has the construction work on the Dubai Metro badly affected the number of visitors to the mall?
The Dubai Metro is one of the major projects that will tremendously add to the development of Dubai as one of the world's major commercial and tourist cities. On our part,
we have not noticed any negative effect on the businesses due to the construction work. We consider our closeness to the Metro as an asset that will increase the number
of visitors and shoppers to Al Ghurair City.
What do you hope to gain from DSS this year?
DSS is one major annual event that cements cooperation between the private and public sectors. And as such, the private sector every year expects to reap great dividends
from this great extravaganza by launching the best possible kinds of promotions in order to draw in the largest possible number of visitors and shoppers. This period of the
year has become quite important for the retail trade in Dubai, and it entails massive marketing campaigns. We are proud to be one of the principal sponsors of this big event.
How do you evaluate your DSS sales since the event began?
Our target is to achieve a 20 per cent increase in sales through the promotions we are launching throughout DSS, and we expect a 20 to 30 per cent increase in the number
of visitors during the whole event. Another attraction for visitors is the chance to win Dh500,000 weekly, which is divided equally among five winners who buy goods to the
value of Dh200 or more at our more than 200 stores.
Do you think the establishment of the so-called New Dubai, with its new investments and malls, will outshine your presence and businesses in Deira?
We are pretty sure of the loyalty of our customers. Furthermore we now enjoy a level of popularity around the region, and in many parts of Europe and the US, mainly due to what we offer in well-known global brands, various entertainment activities, and many different dining options that cater to all tastes.
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