DUBAI // More than 150 cultural, entertainment, art and fashion events – including the latest Cirque du Soleil extravaganza – are on the programme for Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) 2014.
Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), the organiser, has released the programme for the DSF, running across the emirate from January 2 until February 2.
The shows will include international highlights, such as Michael Jackson, The Immortal World Tour by the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil.
Promotions and giant raffles will offer prizes worth millions of dirhams to fit the theme “Shop at your Best”.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Al Seef Street, Al Rigga Street and The Walk on Jumeirah Beach Residence are among the venues, DFRE says.
“With all eyes on Dubai after the Expo 2020 win, we are fully aware that we have to rise up to the expectations as DSF 2014 is the first festival after the announcement,” said Laila Suhail, the chief executive of DFRE.
“We have made extra efforts to make sure that DSF truly lives up to its reputation as a festival for all.”
Launched in 1996, the festival accounts for 30 per cent of annual retail sales in the emirate and has also helped to reinforce the city’s reputation as a global tourism landmark, Ms Suhail said.
Dubai is on track to achieve its aim for 2020 of attracting 20 million tourists and Dh300 billion in tourism revenues a year, of which a major share would come from retail.
Tourist retail is set to be almost Dh33bn by 2017.
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