Dubai: Dubai's promotional festivals have helped the emirate attract 57 million visitors, with total spending of Dh102 billion in 15 years, according to the latest report.
The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) attracted over 40 million visitors, with consumers spending Dh80 billion over 15 years. Prizes ranging from cars, gold and cash worth Dh1.5 billion were given away. Meanwhile, since the launch of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) in 1998, more than 17 million visitors spent Dh22 billion over 12 years.
Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE) is gearing up to kick off the next DSS from June 17, which is expected to once again stimulate retail spending.
This year Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah are organising three summer events to attract visitors.
"Festivals and events in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah only complement each other to achieve the main objective in driving the growth of the UAE's tourism industry," said Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and Chairman of the Dubai Shopping Festival Supreme Committee.
Multiple benefits
These events, he added, were instrumental in boosting the UAE's economy and providing residents with an opportunity to enjoy international festivals and experience different cultures, something that the UAE is known for.
Shaikh Ahmad said that Dubai's festival industry had made the transition from being purely entertaining to becoming a key sector of the economy, and that the sector had come of age by being on par with others in the UAE.
"Dubai has become the pioneer in the region's festival industry with the launch of the Dubai Shopping Festival in 1996 and Dubai Summer Surprises in 1998.
"Many festivals and events in the region took their cues from DSF and DSS. After 15 years of existence, DSF has become a brand that has had an impact on tourism and many other sectors in Dubai and the UAE," he said.
Shaikh Ahmad also said that Emirates airline would be a main sponsor of DSS this year, as it has been for the past 12 years.
This cooperation was in line with the vision of the airline in promoting Dubai as a preferred global destination.
He said that Dubai World Central (DWC) was launched to support the growth of Dubai in a strategic manner.
With an area of 140 square kilometres, DWC will house Al Maktoum Airport — which will become the world's biggest airport. The first phase will open on June 27, said Shaikh Ahmad, adding that DWC will incorporate Dubai Logistics City, DWC Aviation City and other projects to create the world's first fully integrated, multi-modal logistics platform in a single, customs-controlled zone.
The airport expects the number of users to touch 46 million in 2010 and 100 million by 2020, thus promoting major expansion projects across Dubai.
