Dubai Shopping Festival’s journey of growth

1996: The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) is launched. The inaugural year attracts more than 1.6 million visitors and generates revenues of more than Dh2 billion.

1997: Global Village makes its debut at the creekside on Baniyas Street in Deira. DSF generates revenue of Dh2.79 billion, while visitor numbers remain steady.

1998: The DSF introduces ‘Children of the World Meet in Dubai’, which attracts families. ‘Nissan Patrol A Day’, Super Safari raffle, is added to the festival.

1999: The festival theme is changed to the ‘Biggest Family Gathering of the Millennium’. Sales increase by 8.92 per cent over the previous year.

2000: The DSF formally introduces its theme of ‘One World. One Family. One Festival’, which it has used since. This edition attracts a record 2.5 million visitors.

2001: A raffle draw for 31 Rolls Royce cars raises the bar for big promotions in the region, not to mention the $100,000 prize in the ‘To Mother With Love’ promotion.

2002: The festival registers 2.68 million visitors, a 5 per cent increase over the previous year. In addition to the usual 31 Nissan Patrols, two Lexus cars and Dh200,000 in cash and 41kg of gold are also given away as prizes.

2003: DSF attracts 2.92 million visitors, with a spending of Dh5.12 billion. Several new tourism and retail concepts are introduced such as Night Souq and Desert Camp.

2004: Dubai Fashion 2004 featuring top fashion houses like Dior, Christian Lacroix, Givenchy and Emanuel Ungaro is launched. The DSF registers 3.1 million visitors while spending touches Dh5.80 billion.

2005: The 10th edition of DSF registers 3.3 million visitors with a spending of Dh6.67 billion. Raffle promotions such as the Lexus Mega Raffle are launched, which give away two cars plus Dh100,000 per day. Global Village moves to a 17.4 million square feet site in Dubailand.

2006: DSF is cancelled due to the sudden death of Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

2006-07: Dubai hosts a combined 11th and 12th edition of the DSF. Commencing on December 20, 2006 and ending on February 2, 2007, this edition is also the longest, spanning 45 days.

2008: The festival registers 3.2 million visitors with consumer spending reaching Dh10.2 billion.

2009: The 14th edition registers 3.35 million visitors with spending touching Dh9.8 billion in 32 days. The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence joins the DSF party.

2010: Global Village receives 155,000 visitors in a day during the 15th edition of DSF. Government funding and private sector sponsorship reaches Dh65 million.

2011: DSF receives four million visitors, who spend Dh15.1 billion. Regional and international visitors reach 884,660.

2012: The 17th edition of DSF lasts 32 days and attracts 4.36 million visitors who spend Dh14.7 billion.

2013: DSF registers 4.66 million visitors in its 18th edition. Dubai Fashion aboard the Dubai Metro becomes the region’s first fashion event held aboard a moving train.

2014: The 19th edition of DSF held under the theme ‘Shop at your Best’ features 70 participating malls and over 6,000 retail outlets across Dubai.