Retailers across Dubai are bracing themselves for a busy weekend, with the eighth edition of ‘Eid in Dubai – Eid Al Adha’ festival under way.

The event, organised by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), runs until September 26 with a line-up of family-centric events.

During this period, residents and visitors can avail themselves of a range of unbeatable shopping deals and discounts and participate in shopping-linked raffle promotions offering fabulous prizes.

Stores are witnessing a high increase in footfall and sales with the increase in tourists flocking to Dubai to celebrate the long Eid holidays due to the promotion of the Emirate as leading destination in the Gulf. 

Ruban Shanmugarajah, general manager, Babyshop – UAE, said: “In general, the week leading up to Eid Al Adha is one of the busiest trading periods for us at Babyshop, with consumers indulging in festive shopping. We have already witnessed a significant increase in sales compared to the same period last year, bringing in over 10 per cent more consumers into our stores across the country. UAE today has established itself to be a vibrant shopping destination and thus retail in general has boomed at a very rapid pace. “

Simon Cooper, head of Centrepoint, explains that there is a surge in sales pre-Eid which is a week before Eid commences, with a footfall increase of 6-8 per cent and a double digit increase in sales every year during Eid. “We have launched a special Eid collection in kids wear across all stores which comes with an exclusive offer where a customer gets Dh 50 back on any spend of Dh250. We will engage all our customers with entertainment, sweets, festive decor and have some special giveaways for our loyal customers.”

Abdul Kareem Al Sarraj, general manager of Abdel Samad Al Qurashi Perfumes said that Eid season is a peak season for the Arab perfumery business. “There is no fixed percentage as it depends on the season itself, but usually we have a good increase in footfall that can vary from 10-40 per cent. The Eid atmosphere is always attractive to people from all over the world and this is what makes Dubai a preferred destination for tourists.”

Salim Kalsekar, managing director of Al Rasasi Perfumes, says that the initiatives taken by DFRE like ‘Eid in Dubai’ have helped immensely in growing the influx of regional tourists from across the GCC and other Middle Eastern countries.

“This certainly adds numbers where shopping is concerned. In addition to good business, these activities give us an opportunity to interact with a huge and varied base of perfume consumers beside our loyal customers. The Eid season witnesses a great surge as people like to stay true to their traditions. Oriental perfumes and Oudh products form a very important part of regional celebrations. Oud has traditionally been used to welcome guests and is very symbolic of the warm and generous hospitality of Middle Eastern cultures therefore demands shoots up during this period. The use of oil-based perfumes particularly increases during religious occasions such as Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha,” he added.

Nadeem Khanzadah, head of OmniChannel Retail, Jumbo Group, expects an increase in footfall of 15 per cent, due to a large number of GCC residents visiting the UAE along with increase in footfall of UAE residents. “We have great offers on laptops, smartphones, headsets, and speakers. Customers will also stand a chance to receive premium giveaways and incredible discounts of up to 40 per cent on select products. We also have the PS4 White Console that will be exclusively available at Jumbo, along with some major titles such as Fifa 16, which will be released during Eid. We have witnessed year-on-year increase in sales of 10 per cent, owing to an increase in shopping behaviour during this period. We expect to see this trend continue this year as well. ”

Hotels are expected to be at high occupancy during the Eid holidays due to the diversity of activities and facilities offered around Dubai and the great demand from guests coming from all over the GCC.

David Loiseau, vice president, sales at Atlantis, The Palm, said: “Atlantis, The Palm is always keen to welcome the Eid season as we guarantee incredible and unique experiences for our guests. During the Eid Al Adha period, we have launched for the Saudi Arabian market a special offer including a stay in a two bedroom Terrance, Regal or Executive suite for Dh5,845 per night, including complimentary entry to Aquaventure Waterpark, The Lost Chambers Aquarium as well as free access to Kids Club.

“In addition, guests taking advantage of this offer will also have access to the Imperial  Club, offering food and refreshments throughout the day, free internet access and entry to the Sauna and Jacuzzi rooms at ShuiQi Spa giving an added value of over of Dh3,000 per day.”

Restaurants also see a great increase in business during Eid. Maitha AlShamsi the co-founder of the Emirati brand Mama Tani said that Eid is an exciting time for the restaurant sector as many families take the Eid break as an opportunity to dine out together as a family; and families from other emirates use the opportunity to visit other cities within the UAE.  

“Mama Tani is a preferred choice for families as it offers our customers Emirati soul food so that they can experience a taste of the Emirati culture especially during this time.  So we normally see an increase of families from other Emirates visiting our locations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.”- TradeArabia News Service