Dubai Shopping Festival

An annual festival - the Dubai Shopping Festival is a great time to visit Dubai

Countries all over the world, are always thinking of new and exciting programmes to entice foreign visitors to their country. Some have had more impact than others. Dubai though must be a world leader when it comes to organising events, especially where the Dubai Shopping Festival, is concerned. The 11th Dubai Shopping Festival will take place from 4 January to February 4, 2006.

The DSF has established itself as the leading special "shopping" event in the world, others have tried with their own success, but no one has really been able to match the passion and success of this great festival.  In its first year in 1996, 1.5 million people attended and in 1999 this figure increased to a staggering 2.4 million which resulted in incremental sales of US$ 1.12 billion, and these figures have been growing ever since. in 2005 there was an estimated 3.3 million!

So what is the Dubai shopping Festival?  Basically shopping paradise. Dubai is know around the world as such a paradise throughout the year, but they really lay out the red carpet during this special month, with over 2,300 retails outlets participating, that offer everything imaginable from gold, perfume, haute couture, cars, electronics to handicrafts and textiles. Most hotels and appartments also get involved offering special offers during the period, even the world famous Burj Al Arab is included in the hotels. With all these special discounts available many would feel that would suffice, but Dubai goes quite a few steps further. They are scores of raffles that offer very attractive prices outlined below, and Emirates and most other airlines flying out of Dubai offer discounted airfares and much needed excess baggage allowances during the festival. There are other events as well, including international fashion shows, children's events, streetside performances, nightly fireworks, film festivals, and many other cultural events that reflect the emirate's cosmopolitan character. Plus one of the biggest events of them all, the Dubai World Cup also takes place during the festival, and with a staggering US$ 12 million purse that makes it the richest horse race in the world - not something to miss.

In 2006, each day, one winner will walk away with a luxury car while one kilogramme of gold bars will also be raffled off every day.

Just in case someone accused Dubai of not thinking of everything - well sorry, we think they have. They were even offering free health cards to all visitors, which entitle them for free medical treatment if required during their stay. 

What more could you want? Check for available hotels in Dubai here, or read our reviews of hotels in Dubai.   

See other topics on the Dubai Shopping Festival