In Focus | Dubai Shopping Festival 2012
Festivities for DSF 2009 opening shelved
There will be no official opening ceremony for DSF 2009 in line with the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai as an act of solidarity with the people of Gaza.
- Staff Report
- Published: 18:10 January 12, 2009
- Image Credit: Gulf News
- The Dubai Shopping Festival this year is being held from January 15 to February 15.
Dubai: Shaikh Ahmad bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and Chairman of the Dubai Shopping Festival Office (DSFO) Supreme Committee, announced on Tuesday that there will be no official opening ceremony for DSF 2009 in line with the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai as an act of solidarity with the people of Gaza.
The announcement was made by Shaikh Ahmad in a meeting attended by members of the DSF Organizing Committee in addition to Laila Suhail, CEO of DSF Office, Ebrahim Saleh, Coordinator General of DSF Office, and other senior officials of DSF Office.
However, all DSF 2009 activities will go on as planned from January 15 to February 15.
"DSF 2009 coincides with a turbulent period of political turmoil in the Middle East and as per the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid, the festivities marking the beginning of DSF stand cancelled as an act of solidarity towards the people and our brothers in Gaza," said Shaikh Ahmad.
During the meeting, Shaikh Ahmad also thanked the sponsors of DSF and the various government departments involved in the organisng of the festival for their continued support to the event.
"DSF has witnessed a series of successes in the past 13 years that has effectively made it a distinguished regional phenomenon. While being an inspiration for many similar initiatives to be launched in the region, it is notable that DSF is the only one that has excelled in achieving its objectives and still going strong after 13 years. DSF 2009 will be another milestone in the festival's illustrious history," he added.
Barring the official opening ceremony, all events for DSF 2009 will go on as planned.
The 32-day event will begin on January 15 and go on till February 15, with some of the best shopping discounts in a DSF edition yet being offered to visitors.
Additionally, prizes worth millions of dirhams will be given through amazing draws held everyday.
