The Ramadan period is the time for blessings. And UAE retailers are making sure that the blessings multiply as they see increased spends from locals and Arab expats in the UAE.
Major retailers in the UAE across sectors have unveiled a wide spectrum of offers and promotions during the month, and leading the bandwagon is the UAE’s automobile sector.
Al-Futtaim, the dealer for brands such as Toyota and Honda, is offering a special package where customers can purchase a brand new Toyota this Ramadan and defer paying the first installment until Ramadan 2013. And the offer is extended to pre-owned cars as well, wherein customers can choose from among a variety of cars including Audis, BMWs, Hondas, Toyotas and many more, with prices ranging from Dh26,000 to Dh231,000.
Andrew Squires, general manager for National Sales Operations & Marketing, Al-Futtaim Motors — Toyota, expects Ramadan offers to attract “more than 25,000 visitors” to all 13 Al-Futtaim showrooms across the UAE.
However, Al-Futtaim Motors is not alone in offering customers a one-year cushion of payment.
Al Habtoor Motors’ ‘Buy in Ramadan Pay in 2013’ promotion allows customers to purchase a brand new Mitisubishi this month and start paying installments next year.
But Al Habtoor’s star promotion is the twin choices on all Pajero models including the 30th Anniversary Edition.
Pajero customers will get a chance to buy the rally-tested 4WD (four wheel drive) by paying Dh899 per month as part of Mitsubishi Solutions.
Alternatively, they can avail of the benefit of ‘Buy in Ramadan Pay in 2013’ promotion.
“With every passing year, we present our customers with best deals during Ramadan,” said Karl Hamer, managing director of Al Habtoor Motors.
Other car dealers in the UAE looking to boost sales with special Ramadan packages and offers include Juma Al Majid Motors and Al Ghandi Auto, with both expecting a substantial increase in sales this Ramadan.
Khaldon Abdel Hafez, marketing manager at Juma Al Majid Motors, said, he estimates a “20-30 per cent growth in sales” this Ramadan.
“There is a potential sales growth in Ramadan this year, compared to last year, and this is mainly due to bank financing becoming easier now,” he said.
Juma Al Majid Motors’ offer includes customers receiving a free gold coin with every purchase of a Hyundai Accent or Elantra.
Al Ghandi Auto, meanwhile, is offering shoppers Dh6,500 discount on purchase of a Chevrolet Cruze, and Dh5,000 discount on Chevrolet Sonic, besides discounts worth Dh3,000 on the GMC Sierra, and Dh12,000 on the GMC Acadia.
Further, customers purchasing a brand new Mazda at Galadari Automobiles this Ramadan will receive a free one-year comprehensive insurance package that includes one year (30,000km) of free service and five years (140,000km) of free warranty.
Al Majid Motors is also giving customers a chance to walk away with some of the most popular electronic products in the market, such as free insurance and registration along with a 32-inch LCD TV with every purchase of a Kia Picanto, Rio, Cerato, Carens.
Every purchase of the Kia Optima, Cadenza, Carnival, Sorento and Mohave, will get customers free insurance and registration along with a brand new iPad2.
Similarly, Arabian Automobiles has put together a range of offers across the entire Nissan, Infiniti and Renault product ranges.
Several popular Nissan models such as the all-new Micra can be purchased at just Dh699 per month with free insurance for one year.
“Across the Infiniti luxury range, Arabian Automobiles is offering an unbeatable package of supporting benefits inclusive of a chance to win one of 15 travel vouchers worth Dh10,000 each, five years of complimentary service, five years unlimited mileage warranty, complimentary first year insurance and the opportunity to finance at a highly competitive bank profit rate starting from only 2.49 per cent,” said Michel Ayat, CEO of Arabian Automobiles.
Rohma Sadaqat and Sherouk Zakaria are interns at Gulf News.
