Dubai Shopping Festival 2011 Starts Its Regional Promotional Road Show

The Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), an agency under the Department of Economic Development (DED) and organisers of the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), announced the beginning of the regional promotional road show for the 16th edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival 2011 which is being held from 20th January to 20th February 2011.

The regional promotional road show starts with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and ends with India on January 6, 2011. It will also include visits to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Egypt. Emirates are taking part in the road shows promoting various travel and tour packages for the 32- day extravaganza.

Ibrahim Saleh, Festivals Coordinator General and Deputy CEO of Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), who will lead the road show tours, stated that the purpose behind organizing the annual road show was to promote the events and attractions of DSF regionally.

“We usually conduct an in-depth analysis and study of our largest tourist arrival destinations and markets to meet their requirements and aspirations before we start any regional or global promotional road shows for Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) or Eid in Dubai,” he said, stressing that these markets were selected to promote DSF 2011 as they constitute Dubai’s largest tourist arrival market.

“We plan to communicate the mixture of activities, promotions, shopping and events that will be on offer in DSF 2011 to the media, travel agencies and tour operators in these countries in an effort to attract more visitors to Dubai,” Saleh explained.

He further said that Dubai Shopping Festival has played a major role in reviving and boosting the tourism and retail industries in Dubai. Dubai’s signature event has attracted more than 40 million visitors from various nationalities and recorded a consumer spending of over AED 84 billion since its start in 1996.

“More than 6000 retail outlets in addition to around 50 shopping malls will offer sale and discounted prices of up to 75% on a wide range of goods and services,” he stressed.

Ahmed Khoory, Emirates’ Senior Vice President Gulf, Middle East and Iran said: “Emirates has been a major sponsor of the Dubai Shopping Festival since its inception in 1996. We are proud to once again be involved with this incredible event as part of our commitment to the development of Dubai as a world-class tourist destination.”

“During DSF 2011 Emirates is offering a ‘Stay 4, Pay 3’ promotion which includes some of the best beach and city hotels in Dubai. The package includes accommodations for four nights for the price of three, airport transfers to and from the hotel by private car, and an Arabian Adventures welcome pack, apart from numerous other benefits. This promotion can only be availed during DSF with prices starting from just $55 per person per night based on double occupancy,” he added.

“The Emirates package during DSF 2011 is a unique ‘Stay 4, Pay 3’ promotion including some of the best known hotels in Dubai. The package includes accommodation for four nights for the price of three, airport transfers to and from the hotel, and an Arabian Adventures welcome pack, apart from numerous other benefits. This promotion can only be availed during DSF with prices starting from just $55 per person per night,” he added.

The latest statistics from the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) in Dubai show a 20% increase in the number of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) visitors staying at Dubai hotels during the first six months of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. Also, figures of visitors from Egypt were up by 5% and by 26% from India during the same period.

The number of hotels and hotel apartments increased by 7% to 566 establishments in the period between January to June 2010, compared to 530 establishments in the same period in 2009. This saw total hotel rooms increase from 58,188 rooms to 67,369, marking a 16% increase of 9181 rooms, according to the same statistics.
 

DU Partners With ENOC And EPPCO To Provide Special Mobile Offers In The Spirit Of The Shopping Season

Make the most of this shopping season with du. We have partnered with ENOC and EPPCO to bring special mobile offers. The offers include special rates on a range of popular Samsung and Nokia handsets when you purchase a du mobile line.

“In the spirit of the shopping season, we wanted to provide unique packages that would offer fantastic deals on popular mobile handsets. With our special offer, UAE residents can enjoy all the benefits of having a du line, including such features as Pay by the Second billing, our revolutionary WoW recharge cards which offer more than 60 per cent bonus on international calling, the fastest network in the UAE and superb voice clarity. Furthermore, we are offering double rewards through the value du services offer and the winning opportunities available through the ENOC/EPPCO raffle,” commented Farid Faraidooni, Chief Commercial Officer, du.

The exclusive offer consists of four popular mobile handsets along with a du Pay as you Go® line (worth AED 55), including the Samsung E 1087 for just AED 99 (a saving of AED 55), the Nokia 1616 for just AED 120 (a saving of AED 30), the Nokia 1800 for just AED 134 (a saving of AED 30) and the Nokia 2700 for just AED 309 (a saving of AED 40).

Your du mobile package gives you the advantage of extensive mobile coverage, the fastest network in the UAE, the most innovative propositions, value-for-money tariffs, easy to access retail network and friendly customer service.
As part of the special offer, customers will also be given two raffle tickets for every AED 20 they spend at ENOC and EPPCO service station, including one for the daily Nissan car draw, and one for the ENOC and EPPCO 32-day giveaway, which offers the opportunity to win AED 320,000 during four different draws of AED 80,000 each on the dates, 31 January and 7, 14 and 20 February.
 

Dubai Is Worlds Best Shopping Destination, Survey Reveals

Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has announced that a new survey has named Dubai as the world’s top shopping destination among shoppers in the Arab World. The survey by Yahoo! Maktoob Research revealed that 32 per cent of Arab shoppers rank Dubai as the best in a list that included prominent global cities such as London, Paris and New York.

Proactive marketing initiatives conducted by DTCM to promote travel and tourism attractions as well as business amenities in Dubai have helped cement the Emirate’s reputation as a popular shopping destination by shoppers in the Arab World and other countries worldwide. Shopping-oriented festivals such as the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) and Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) have likewise strengthened Dubai’s claim as a global shopping haven.

"Dubai has an exciting mix of amenities that give customers a truly unique and pleasurable shopping experience. Moreover, Dubai’s impressive collection of international brands and retail outlets rival those of any other shopping city in the world – a key attribute that gives the Emirate a distinctive edge as the best shopping destination in the Arab World. Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing will build on this distinction to develop more innovative campaigns and promotional activities that will further reinforce the reputation of Dubai as the world’s shopping capital," said Eyad Ali Abdul Rahman, Executive Director Media Relation Division & Business Development, DTCM.

In addition to a long list of luxury brands and a wide variety of retail choices, Dubai’s shopping centers have also been globally recognized for their distinctive amenities, such as the one-of-a-kind indoor ski slope at the Mall of the Emirates, and the majestic view of the iconic Burj Khalifa tower at the Dubai Mall.

Dubai was trailed in the ranking by Paris, which sits at a distant second with 13 per cent of the vote, followed by Beijing, Istanbul and London at joint third with 5 per cent each. New York, Beirut, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Tokyo complete the top 10, according to the survey, which polled 2,900 people from different Arab countries.
 

Exciting DSF Deals For Shoppers At Palm Strip Shopping Mall

Palm Strip Shopping Mall, a part of Dubai Investment Properties (DIP), announced that many of its retailers are offering fantastic deals and discounts on purchases and the mall is offering shoppers raffle coupons for a chance to win Nissan cars every day during the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) 2011. Palm Strip also announced that it has experienced a higher footfall with the number of shoppers increasing during the first ten days of DSF 2011.

“Palm Strip Shopping Mall is happy to be a part of Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) once again this year. DSF is one of the most popular and successful events across the globe and has played a significant role in raising Dubai’s profile within the international arena and promoting it as one of the leading retail destinations of the world,” says Mr. Deepak Chawla, Operations Manager at DIP. “The number of visitors at Palm Strip has definitely increased since DSF began with retail outlets registering higher sales and footfall due to the DSF offers and deals.
Customers visiting Palm Strip Shopping Mall during DSF can look forward to fantastic discounts and sales and participate in the Grand Nissan Raffle promotion.”

The DSF promotions at Palm Strip Shopping Mall will be on from 20 January 2011 to 20 February 2011. Shoppers who spend Dhs 200 at any of the participating retail outlets at Palm Strip Shopping Mall will be eligible to enter and win 41 Nissan cars under DSF’s Nissan Grand Raffle promotion. Customers will also be able to enter into the mega draw on the last day of DSF, where some lucky shoppers will get a chance to drive home 10 luxurious Nissan cars.

Retailers at Palm Strip Shopping Mall are offering exciting DSF deals which include discounts of 50% on selected items at Donatella, part sale from 25% to 70% at Angels, discounts of upto 50% at Optivision, part sale from 25% to 70% at Zara Home, part sale from 30% to 70% at Meeting Garments and exciting DSF offers from Rasasi Perfumes to name a few.
 

Mediacast Opens Newest Apple-Dedicated Showroom In Palm Strip Shopping Mall

Dubai Investment Properties (DIP), today announced the opening of MediaCast’s new Apple-dedicated showroom at the Palm Strip Shopping Mall on Jumeirah Beach Road. The new store, which is located beside MediaCast’s existing pro-audio and video store at Palm Strip, offers customers an extensive range of Apple products from iPods to Macbook Pro’s and iMacs to high-end MacPros excluding iPhones, LED Cinema Displays and storage solutions at extremely competitive prices. MediaCast’s new outlet also includes an Apple-authorized service center, where customers could get their Apple products fixed or upgraded by Apple-certified technicians.

“We are pleased to open our new Apple-dedicated showroom at Palm Strip Shopping Mall. We chose Palm Strip for our new store as we already have a showroom for professional audio and video equipment at the mall and were happy with the location, facilities and services. Our new store is a one-stop shop, created to satisfy not only the needs of our retail customers but also to comply with the requirements of the media professionals such as designers, editors, musicians, DJs and broadcasters. Our apple-certified engineers at the store will help customers with professional advice and recommendations and accurately guide them with their purchasing decisions.”

MediaCast, an Apple-authorized reseller, works closely with systems integrators and media entities in the region to integrate Apple solutions and provide after-sales support and services. The launch of the new store at Palm Strip Shopping Mall is in line with the company’s expansion plans in the region. Apart from having an Apple-authorized service center at the new store, the company has also created a special keynote area called ‘The Learning Annex’ designed for hosting training courses on a wide range of topics such as video editing with FinalCut Pro, switch from a PC to a Mac, and even using professional software and hardware solutions from other brands whether it is Avid ProTools, Avid Media Composer or Steinberg’s Cubase.

“MediaCast is a perfect addition to our existing tenant mix at Palm Strip Shopping Mall. Customers visiting our mall will now be able to buy Apple products at the new store. We welcome them to Palm Strip and will offer them our whole-hearted support, facilities and services. We look forward to seeing another success story unfold at Palm Strip,” Mr. Deepak Chawla, Operations Manager, concluded on a high note.
 

Dubai Gold Jewellery Group Unveils A Bag Of Fortune Of 21 Kilos Of Gold And AED 3 Million In Cash Prizes For Dubai Shopping Festival

Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group has unveiled the details of its much awaited Dubai Shopping Festival promotions offering customers unprecedented opportunities to win kilos of gold and instant cash prizes. ‘Bag of Fortune’, the 32 day mega campaign starting from January 20, 2011, offers jewellery customers an amazing chance to win 21 kilos of gold worth AED 3.5 Million through raffle draws. Over 200 jewellery retail outlets across Dubai will participate in the campaign which presents shoppers a daily chance to win half a kilo of gold; and a bumper prize of five kilos of gold on the last day of the spectacular festival. To take part in the fantastic winning opportunities, customers need to spend only up to AED 500 on gold jewellery purchases at any of the participating outlets.

In addition to the kilos of gold on offer, there is also an opportunity to win AED Three Million in cash through a special ‘Scratch n Win’ promotion that is aimed at shoppers of diamonds, pearls and watches. Anyone spending up to AED 1,000 on diamond jewellery, pearls or watches is entitled to one ‘Scratch n Win’ coupon along with two gold and jewellery raffle promotion coupons, thus doubling their chances at the winning stakes!

Commenting on the launch of ‘Bag of Fortune’, Anan Fakhreddin, DGJG Chairman & Board of Director, said: “It is that time of the year again when everyone gets ready to avail the fantastic winning opportunities, promotions and bargains that Dubai Shopping Festival offers. The whole city comes alive during DSF and our ‘Bag of Fortune’ campaign will add a touch of glitter to the festivities offering amazing opportunities for shoppers to take home kilos of gold free and instant cash prizes. There is a total of 21 kilos of gold to be won this DSF and with the appreciating value of gold, this is a chance not to be missed.

“Dubai Shopping Festival has always been a peak season for Dubai’s jewellery trade. Our promotion this year is expected to boost sales by at least 50%. Even though gold prices are at a record high, people still look at it as a safe investment. Also, DSF will bring in more tourists who have traditionally driven Dubai’s jewellery sales. With Dubai’s strong positioning as the ‘City of Gold’ and ‘Jewellery Destination of the World’, gold and jewellery purchases are on the shopping list of most visitors. Gold Souq, the traditional centre of Dubai’s jewellery trade, is all set to welcome more visitors and residents this DSF; and retailers are preparing to meet increased demand. ”

Started in 1996, Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group and World Gold Council have supported Dubai Shopping Festival and Dubai Summer Surprises over the years, offering 650 kilos of gold free so far.

Ibrahim Saleh, Festivals Coordinator General and Deputy CEO of Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), said: "The Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group witnessed its first launch with the start of DSF and it grew and developed alongside the festival, playing an important role in enriching DSF’s events by offering spectacular prizes that contributed in positioning Dubai as the City of Gold and Jewellery.

“We are very happy to be partnering with DGJG this year as they unveil the gold raffle which has been one of the most exciting raffles of DSF and will be even more exciting during DSF 2011.”

The ‘Bag of Fortune’ campaign is in association with the World Gold Council.

Yogaani Bhatia, UAE Country Manager for the World Gold Council (“WGC”) commented: “We have been proud supporters of the Dubai Shopping Festival in association with the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group for over a decade, and are delighted to be involved once again. The WGC played a key role the inaugural gold promotion in the first year. The festival is always a wonderful way to start the year, and after seeing good demand in 2010, we are looking forward to a successful 2011 for the gold industry."

Key sponsors of the campaign are Damas Jewellery, Joy Alukkas Jewellery, Atlas Jewellery, Chittillappilly Jewellers, Malabar Gold, Meena Jewellers and Sky Jewellery

Winners of the campaign’s half kilo of gold will be announced on a daily basis by the Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group and the mega winner of five kilos of gold will be announced on the last day of the festival.

The campaign runs from January 20th to February 20, 2011.
 

Burgundy Desserts Bar Opens At Palm Strip Shopping Mall

Dubai Investment Properties (DIP), one of the leading real estate developers in UAE, today announced that Burgundy Desserts Bar has opened its new outlet at the Palm Strip Shopping Mall in Jumeirah as part of its regional expansion plans. The newest tenant plans to serve the most delicious desserts and chocolate, confectionaries and cakes to customers visiting Palm Strip Shopping Mall.

“Burgundy Desserts Bar is a one stop treat shop, where customers can come in and taste the difference – whether it is a piece of our cheesecake or one of our mini-desserts. We offer a wide choice of desserts from cakes and chocolate, confectionaries and mini-desserts that are uniquely Burgundy,” says Miss. Haifa Mohammed, Shop sales manager, Burgundy Desserts Bar. “Our new shop in Palm Strip Shopping Mall is sleek, elegant and classy designed in warm yet refined tones of burgundy and gold, with an indulgent spotlight on the desserts and nothing else.”

“We chose Palm Strip as our location as it is the most popular mall in the Jumeirah area, where people love to come and shop or just hang out. That combined with the facilities and services the mall was offering us made it the best proposition for our new outlet. Not only is Palm Strip centrally located in the Jumeirah area but it is also easy to access and offers visitors plenty of parking spaces. We are confident Burgundy Desserts Bar will become a popular spot for shoppers at the mall,” she adds.

Since its inception in March 1997, Palm Strip Shopping Mall has been the hot spot of the Jumeirah area. With its trendy architectural style, carved terraces, beautiful green landscapes, branded shops, selected food outlets and open air cafes, the mall is a perfect blend of the style and sophistication of Beverly Hills and the traditions of the Arabian Peninsula. Palm Strip Shopping Mall has been home to flagship stores of high profile well-established brands with Burgundy Desserts Bar being the latest addition to its world-class portfolio.

“We welcome Burgundy Desserts Bar to Palm Strip Shopping Mall. It will be a sweet escape for shoppers who want to rest a bit in the midst of their shopping. Burgundy will be a perfect blend with our other tenant-mix of well-established brands. We extend our full support and facilities to them and look forward to helping them in their success in the region,” said Mr. Deepak Chawla, Operations Manager at DIP.

Customers can make a sweet escape to Burgundy Dessert Bar for the most irresistible cakes, desserts and confectionery in town for happy occasions and weddings party .
 

Emirates NBD Sponsors Dubai Shopping Festival For 16th Consecutive Year

Emirates NBD, the leading bank in the region, announced today that it will continue its association with the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) for the 16th consecutive year, and will serve as a sponsor for Dubai’s annual shopping and entertainment event.

Emirates NBD has been a supporter of DSF since it was first introduced in 1996 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Scheduled to begin on January 20, 2011, the 32-day DSF 2011 is expected to increase tourist inflow into Dubai and provide a significant boost to the Emirate’s tourism and retail sector.

The annual Dubai Shopping Festival has emerged as a mega tourist event in Dubai with the inaugural DSF attracting around 1.6 million tourists and visitors from across the world. By 2009, and the 14th edition of the DSF, the number of visitors had more than doubled to touch 3.35 million and the total spend at the event touched AED 9.8 billion.

“As the Middle East’s leading bank with a multicultural customer base, Emirates NBD is committed to supporting all community-related initiatives that also contribute to the economy of the emirate,” said Saif Al Mansoori, Bank’s Representative, Deputy Head – Group Marketing and Branding, Emirates NBD. “Dubai Shopping Festival has become the leading shopping and entertainment event in the region attracting tourists from across the world. Emirates NBD is delighted to support this event once again as it represents the best shopping and entertainment experience the city has to offer.”

To celebrate the 16th edition of DSF, the Retail Cards Business at Emirates NBD is also launching a dedicated promotion for its cardholders themed: “Triple the fun.” Cardholders using the Emirates NBD Card during DSF 2011 can benefit from three exciting offers. These include 30 two-night packages for two at the customer’s choice of destination from among Istanbul, Cairo, Colombo, Beirut, Amman and Salalah (one winner per day), 30 winners to get 100 per cent of their DSF spend back with a maximum limit of AED 5000 per customer (One winner per day) and zero per cent easy instalment plan across 300 locations for all purchases including jewellery, furniture, electronics and appliances.

“Emirates NBD is constantly focused on providing greater benefits to our cardholders by offering them exceptional returns on their card spend, through innovative schemes,” said R Sivaram, Senior VP and Head of Retail Cards Business, Emirates NBD. “DSF is an ideal platform to launch such card-related promotions as there are several sales and special deals on offer and customers can get further advantages from shopping. We encourage our cardholders to avail of these offers by using their Emirates NBD cards during DSF.”
 

Beat Recession And Enjoy Retail Therapy At The Shopping Arcade Of Al Bustan Centre Residence

This festive season you will be spoilt for choice as over 95 outlets in the shopping arcade of Al Bustan Centre & Residence – a deluxe property which offers world-class services and facilities in the city, is a wide array of merchandise to its guests. The centre has it all from cosmetics to accessories. Whether you’re interested in the cutting edge styles or some exotic offerings, there’s a store for every style and budget.

Moussa El Hayek, Chief Operating Officer Al Bustan Centre & Residence, said: “The centre has something for everyone – fashion outlets for ladies and readymade garments for kids which are moderately priced ones, and from food court & food chains to Fantasy Kingdom, it has expanded its offerings for older and younger audience alike. There are so many choices that even the most seasoned travelers and visitors will be overwhelmed.”

The outlets at the centre have a diverse array of merchandise to attract all kinds of shoppers, delicious food joints that should not be missed and Fantasy Kingdom for kids to enjoy offers guests good value for money. The food court is open from 7am to 11pm on weekdays and till midnight on weekends. The centre lounge is for those who wish to enjoy freshly baked French pastries with a selection of coffees.

Meanwhile, Fantasy Kingdom is an indoor amusement center that takes over 24,000 sq. ft. of the ground floor of Al Bustan Centre. It is completely devoted to the entertainment needs of the entire family thus categorized in the industry as a family entertainment centre (FEC). It is a safe play haven for children of residents and for guests to the centre.

Thus this festive season beat the recession! Take a stroll to the property’s centre for buying gifts for your near and dear ones, beauty products including fragrances, makeup and hair care products, shoes, luggage, sports equipment, toiletries, power tools, books, health food, toys, music and more. The property also offers extensive free parking to its guests.

Emirates Promotes Dubai Shopping Festival With Stay 4, Pay 3 Hotel Packages

The 15th annual Dubai Shopping Festival kicks off on 20th January 2011 and runs until 20th February 2011. Emirates has teamed up with beach and city hotels to offer a free-night stay during the Festival. Travellers who book a four-night stay will receive one free night.

Launched in 1996, the month-long Dubai Shopping Festival attracts visitors from around the world and has been supported by Emirates since its inception. “Emirates supports the Festival as part of our on-going mission to support Dubai as the ultimate tourist destination,” commented Russell Sheldon, Senior Vice President Network Passenger Sales Development, Emirates. “Tourists can find every major brand in the world in Dubai, which has approximately 14 million square feet of shopping space in its malls, including the worlds’ largest shopping centre — the Dubai Mall. In addition to shopping, the choice of restaurants is also impressive. Our packages are designed to help make a Dubai stay more affordable.”

Tourists can enjoy tax-free shopping, as well as discounts of up to 50 percent on a wide variety of items during the Shopping Festival. During the month-long event, bargain hunters from around the globe will win prizes in daily draws. Events ranging from live jazz to cartoon shows keep the entire family entertained.

Packages can be purchased through travel agents and Emirates offices worldwide, and include a choice of hotels, airport transfers and buffet breakfast. Participating beach hotels in Dubai are The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, The Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Mina A Salam and Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina. City hotels include the Grand Hyatt, Dubai Marriott, Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, Hyatt Regency, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, The Address Dubai Marina, The Fairmont Dubai, Shangri-La Hotel, Raffles, Taj Palace Hotel, The Palace – Old Town, Premier Inn Dubai International Airport, Four Points by Sheraton, Al Manzil Hotel, Qamardeen Hotel, Marco Polo Hotel and Highland City Hotel. Apartment hotels include Dubai Marriott – The Harbour Hotel and Suites and Pearl Residence.

Prices start at just $55 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. The package includes accommodations for four-nights for the price of three, airport assistance on arrival at Dubai International Airport, Arabian Adventures welcome pack, airport transfers to/from the hotel by private car, breakfast daily and all taxes and service charges. Car rentals through Budget Rent a Car can be added to the package for an additional fee. All passengers, regardless of airfare or class of travel, can purchase the packages in advance of arrival in Dubai. Passengers can be booked on either the inbound or outbound sectors to Dubai (or both). Bonus nights are also available for longer stays (eight-nights for the price of six-nights, 12 nights for the price of nine and 16 for the price of 12).

For bookings or more information, visit www.emirates.com/dsf