In Focus | Dubai Shopping Festival 2012

Dh1.23b generated through Visa card payments during DSF

A record $335 million was generated through Visa card payments alone during the Dubai Shopping Festival this year.

  • Staff Report
  • Published: 00:00 March 23, 2005
  • Gulf News

A record $335 million (Dh1.23 billion) was generated through Visa card payments alone during the Dubai Shopping Festival this year.

Local and international Visa cardholder spending during this DSF was nearly one-third higher than at last year's festival.

Peak shopping was seen on January 16, where an average of 105 shopping transactions were made per minute on Visa and Visa Electron cards, leading to total consumer expenditure of over $16 million (Dh58.8 million) in just one day.

While the influx of international cardholders continues to grow, domestic Visa cardholders accounted for over 55 per cent of shopping during DSF.

"Dubai is well known as a shoppers paradise and the growth in use of cards has made it easier for people to shop. Spending patterns are clearly changing, as cardholders are experiencing the convenience and safety of Visa solutions for their everyday requirements," said Kamran Siddiqi, general manager Middle East, Visa International.

Gulf News
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DSF will open
with fireworks at 8:30pm
tonight. The spectacular
display will stretch for about
6km, the longest in the
history of the festival. The
musical display will be
synchronised with the theme
song of DSF and will illuminate
the night sky along the stretch
from Business Bay, Dubai Creek
right up to the Shindagha area.

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