Dubai has unveiled the Calendar of Events for the 19th edition of Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) featuring more than 150 attractions in diverse fields from shopping to entertainment, fashion to lifestyle, and arts and culture.

The festival, themed “Shop at your Best” and running from January 2 to February 2, 2014, will also offer international shows, concerts, shopping promotions, and mega raffles offering prizes worth millions of dirhams.

The DSF 2014 Calendar of Events offers a line-up of more events and activities spread across the city at key DSF destinations such as Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Al Seef Street, Al Rigga Street, and The Walk- Jumeirah Beach Residence.

Unveiling the DSF 2014 Calendar of Events, Laila Mohammed Suhail, CEO, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, an agency of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, and the organisers of the annual DSF, said: “With all eyes on Dubai post 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.”

“We have made extra efforts to make sure that DSF truly lives up to its reputation as a festival for all by identifying a number of additional and special areas of Dubai to host the numerous activities to enable maximum exposure and opportunities for visitors to experience the vibrancy of this extravaganza and also reap its benefits.

“Indeed, DSF compliments Dubai’s position as the tourism destination of choice in the region by narrowing the gap between the tourism and retail sectors under a common platform where businesses in both sectors work together to give visitors an enriching and memorable holiday experience,” she added.

Dubai is well on course to achieving its Tourism Vision for 2020 of attracting 20 million tourists and Dh300 billion ($82 billion) in tourism revenues annually, of which a major share would come from retail sales, according to a study.

Retail purchases by visitors is set to reach almost Dh33 billion by 2017, accounting for more than a quarter of total sales, which is expected to increase at 5.7 per cent annually over the period 2013-2017.

Events include the DSF Carnival, the biggest carnival parade in the history of festival, fashion events such as the The Vertical Fashion Show done from mind-boggling heights, and spectacular fireworks as well as international concerts, theatrical and character shows.

Other highlights include Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil,  the DSF Music Nights concerts  featuring some of the popular artistes and entertainers in the Arab world including Mohamed Mounir, Nancy Ajram,  Rabeh Saqer, Balqees, Mohammed Abdo, Hatem al Iraqi and Majid Al Mohandes as well as the Bedouin Lifestyle and Carpet & Art Oasis, an exhibition and sale of some of the rarest, largest, and most unique carpets and rugs from around the world, as well works of art and handicrafts.

Further at the Al Shindagha Heritage Area, a wide spread of activities showcasing the rich Emirati heritage will offer visitors the opportunity to absorb the heritage and culture of the UAE through several activities such as traditional folklore groups, traditional weddings diving shows, traditional games and bands, a traditional souk, traditional food, marine-related handicrafts, a falconry show and a camel caravan.

DSF will also feature the Infiniti Mega Raffle that will give visitors the dream opportunity take home daily not one but two luxury Infiniti cars a cash prize of Dh100,000.

DSF visitors can also win one Nissan car a day at the Nissan Grand Raffle while the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group will be running a multi-million dirham Gold Raffle offering shoppers the chance to win fabulous gold prizes and Diamond Solitaire rings every day.

Shoppers can also participate in a Shop & Win promotion to win a cash prize of Dh500,000 while customers who dine at participating food outlets in the Dine & Win  promotion stand to win a prize of Dh350,000 in cash.

Journalists from the regional media will also be honoured for their efforts at showcasing and creating awareness of DSF 2014 at the annual DSF Journalism Award.

Entries for the award are judged by a highly respected jury panel on an evaluation criteria based on the style of writing, quality of research, quality of content, overall presentation, creativity in news angle, and the overall impact of the story. – TradeArabia News Service