Dubai: The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) contributed Dh15.1 billion to Dubai's economy last year, organisers Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE) said in a report.
Of this, Dh5.9 billion was spent by regional and international visitors while Dh6.6 billion was spent by residents of other emirates, said a YouGov study commissioned by DEPE.
Clothes, fashion items and accessories were the most popular DSF purchases for tourists, with more than three quarters of visitors purchasing these items (76 per cent), with four in ten also purchasing perfumes, cosmetics and skincare products.
The study, designed to pinpoint key findings on spending habits, participant engagement, visitor profile, and retailer perceptions, surveyed 898 international visitors and 1,981 UAE residents throughout the festival period (January 20 to February 20, 2011).
Central pillars
Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation, Chairman and CEO of Emirates airline and Group and Chairman of Dubai World, said, "Tourism and the retail and events sectors are central pillars underpinning the success of Dubai's non-oil economy. Together, these industries create jobs and drive revenue, allowing businesses large and small to thrive.
"Thanks to Dubai's ongoing investment in infrastructure, and its commitment to building a world-leading retail environment, the emirate has become a magnet for businesses and visitors from around the world. The growing festival and events sector only serves to further strengthen Dubai's offering.
"We will continue to work to foster and develop the tourism and retail sectors and to diversify and fortify the emirate's economy. We are firmly committed to continuing to build the traditional sectors of trade and industry; driving opportunities for companies, including the critical SME [small and medium enterprises] sector, through the creation of the best possible environment for business growth."
During DSF 2011, just under four million people participated in DSF-related activitiess. A total of 884,660 regional and international visitors came to Dubai during the DSF, with the largest proportions coming from India, the UK and Saudi Arabia (11 per cent, 8 per cent and 8 per cent respectively), besides 3.1 million UAE residents.
The festival's continued strength was echoed by data from retail participants, with 60 per cent indicating that consumer traffic was ‘the same as' or ‘better' than during DSF 2010.
Laila Suhail, CEO of DEPE, says: "Over the last 16 years, the Dubai Shopping Festival has played a central role in establishing Dubai as a world-leading retail destination.
"The 2011 research findings indicate just how important it is to supporting and fostering our economic growth and creating jobs in the retail and events sectors.
Growing contributor
"As we prepare for the opening of the 2012 Dubai Shopping Festival, the research proves that DSF is a major — and growing — contributor to Dubai's economy, and plays a vital part in boosting shopping and tourism revenue for the emirate."
UAE residents spent Dh6.2 billion on shopping during the 2011 event. However, 84 per cent of visitors said DSF is about much more than just shopping and has grown beyond the realm of a straightforward shopping festival to offer a range of value-added activities.
