Shoppers throng malls on new weekend

Dubai: Shops did a roaring trade yesterday as people took full advantage of the new weekend arrangements to enjoy some retail therapy.

Stores in Dubai reported bumper takings compared to the previous regime but said that Thursday remained busy.

Yesterday was the second Saturday since the public sector changeover from a Thursday-Friday weekend to a Friday-Saturday weekend.

Tim Jones, general manager of Lamcy Plaza, said Saturday was now "much more busy" than it was prior to the change.

"Friday is still the busiest day of the week, but there are more people here on Saturday than before the changeover," he said.

Jones said there was no sign so far of Thursday becoming quieter than it used to be during the earlier weekend on Thursdays and Fridays.

There was also a buzz at the BurJuman centre, according to head of research and marketing Sabina Khandwani.

"It is busy it is really busy, but it is a bit too early to say if everyone has changed their shopping days," she said.

Part of the extra trade at the shopping mall could be as a result of parents engaging in "back to school" shopping as their children returned to lessons, Khandwani said.

"We will have to watch for a while before we can say there has definitely been a change although we anticipate Saturday will remain busier for sure," she said.