With approximately 3,500 retailers and more than four million visitors expected, DSF gets bigger and better.
The much-anticipated, much-talked-about and, of course, much-hyped Dubai Shopping Festival is here with exciting offers, promotions and sales.
It's been called a shopper's delight and the paradise for promotions, it gives retail therapy a whole new meaning — but that's Dubai all-year-round. Now for the pinnacle of this perennial revelry, beginning today for a whole month you can enjoy, partake and immerse yourself in a shopping extravaganza that is the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF).
A one-of-its-kind event the Dubai Shopping Festival is definitely an annual highlight much awaited by residents and tourists alike. It offers innumerable shopping opportunities, a variety of entertainment events and unbelievable prizes.
With more than 4,000 retail shops and 40 shopping malls participating in the festivities, DSF 2008 promises to have something for everyone. The offers, value-added promotions, sales and discounts, reaching up to 75 per cent on international brands, reposition Dubai as one of the leading shopping destinations of the world.
The DSF was first conceived as a pure retail event, with the primary aim of revitalising the retail trade in Dubai. It has now grown into a major tourist attraction that involves the whole family. In its first year, DSF attracted 1.6 million visitors with a consumer spending of Dh2.15 billion.
In 2006-07 attractive shopping promotions and international events across Dubai during DSF attracted 3.5 million visitors and witnessed visitor spending of Dh10.2 billion. The total number of visitors for the past 12 years has reached an impressive 28.35 million.
Touching the four million mark
Organisers of DSF 2008 have predicted that this year the number of visitors will touch four million, an increase of approximately 10 per cent. According to Vipen Sethi, CEO of Landmark Group, the retail trade in Dubai is also looking forward to increased revenues during DSF 2008, expecting a 10 to 15 per cent increase in consumer spend this year.
"The number of retailers participating in the Dubai Shopping Festival 2008 has gone up to more than 3,500 as compared to 2,800 last year. All of them will be enticing the shoppers with extremely competitive prices for branded products, raffle draws and other attractive offers," says Sethi.
The Landmark Group, a support sponsor of DSF 2008, also plans to unveil a vast array of attractive offers and promotions across its stores during this year's DSF. There will be a part sale with up to 50 per cent off at Babyshop, Shoemart, Splash and Lifestyle, a part sale with up to 60 per cent off at Lee Cooper and a part sale with 70 per cent off at Koton, Reiss, Aftershock and New Look. At Home Centre customers spending Dh250 will get a Dh50 gift voucher.
Another key sponsor of the Dubai Shopping Festival, the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group (DGJG) has said that customers can win 32 kilograms of gold, worth Dh3.5 million. The DGJG has also introduced a special ‘Win with the Winner' scheme for participating retailers in whicg they receive a cash award if the winning coupon is obtained from them.
More than 400 jewellery outlets are expected to participate in this year's DSF. To try a hand at winning, all customers need to do is purchase Dh500 worth of gold jewellery from any of the DSF participating outlets in Dubai. The accompanying coupon will allow them to enter the daily raffle draw for one kilogram of gold.
According to Tawfique Abdullah, Chairman, DGJG, "Though gold prices are very high, with the large number of visitors expected and the active support of our members, we are very positive about the results." International jewellery retailer Damas has also launched the Citibank-Damas Millionaire promotion that will provide jewellery lovers the chance to win Dh1 million cash monthly until December 31, 2008. Holders of all Citibank credit cards are eligible to join and the rewards-driven scheme applies to purchases of international and in-house jewellery creations at any Damas store across the UAE.
In the electronics sector, the Eros Group (sole distributors of world-renowned brands such as Hitachi, Samsung, Ben Q and Taurus and one of the leading players in consumer electronics and telecom) is all set to launch the Hitachi X Series flat panel televisions. Some of the features in the latest X series include the newly developed graphic engine for full high definition, high picture quality processing, high contrast ration, power swivel stand and good connectivity.
There will also be a part sale with up to 50 per cent discounts at Jashanmal department stores, which house a range of products from famous appliance brands such as Kenwood, Morphy Richards, Maytag and Russell Hobbs. Home brands include Da Vinci Crystal, Stuart Crystal, Oneida and Gottighen Cutlery to name a few. Other luggage brands include Delsey and Hidesign.
Clarks Shoes will have a part sale with up to 40 per cent discount on a selected range of products. Tourists planning to buy a piece of Rimowa luggage can get a Dh100 gift voucher with every purchase of Rimowa worth Dh500. Shoppers can also check out the best deals of the season in all Nine West stores across the region, offering up to 75 per cent off on all their styles during DSF 2008.
At Kenneth Cole shoppers can get 50 per cent off, while American fashion footwear label Naturaliser offers up to 75 per cent off. Charles and Keith, a Singapore-based brand, which designs, develops and produces a line of women's footwear, is also offering up to 75 per cent off on its products.
The global luxury goods company Bally is offering up to 50 per cent off this DSF. The Raoul Spring/Summer 2008 Men's collection will offer up to 75 per cent off on its men's clothing and accessories. Aldo, the international retailer of fashion footwear, leather goods and accessories for women and men, is offering up to 75 per cent off on all products during DSF.
Mont Blanc will also have attractive DSF privileges at its boutiques in BurJuman Centre, Deira City Centre, Dubai Festival City, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Ibn Battuta Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Wafi and also in Abu Dhabi. Rivoli will offer its customers a diverse shopping experience with privileges and scratch and win offers on an exquisite range of watches, writing instruments and accessories.
Then there is Dunhill offering up to 50 percent off on the Dunhill's menswear range. At Hour Choice everytime customers buy watches or fashion jewellery there are attractive discounts to be won on the next purchase. Pan Emirates Home Furnishings is offering a 20 per cent gift voucher free on any purchase above Dh250.
For kids Tape a' l' oeil and Adam kids are offering up a 50 per cent off at all outlets. At Pixi if you spend Dh250 you will get a fabulous ‘pop' product free.
If crytal, china and silver is what your heart desires then check out the prices offered on a superb range of tableware at the Table Art stores in Dubai.
Besides these retail attractions, there will also be the DSF 2008 daily mega raffles draws, offering lucky winners prizes that can reach up to Dh1 million per day. While Lexus is offering two brand new models daily to one winner, the same winner will have the chance to take home 100,000 in cash. But the surprise is that the 100,000 cash prize will be in a different currency every day.
