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All set for DSF 2012

17th edition of Dubai Shopping Festival will roll out 32 days of excitement, world-class entertainment and loads of mega prizes to showcase "Dubai at its Best"

DSF 2012 Sponsors hail the event's positive impact on the emirate

Dubai, January 4^th 2012: The 17^th edition of Dubai Shopping Festival, one of the world's best shopping and entertainment extravaganzas, opens today with the sole promise of offering 32 days of sheer excitement, world-class entertainment and loads of mega prizes to showcase Dubai at its brilliant best to tens of thousands of visitors from around the world.

The longest ever display of fireworks in terms of distance in the festival's history will launch DSF 2012, which is being celebrated this year under the slogan "Dubai at its Best" in line with the overall DSF theme of "ONE WORLD - ONE FAMILY - ONE FESTIVAL".

The 5-minute musical fireworks, which will start at 8.30pm, will be synchronized with the DSF theme song "Dubai Danat ul Dunia" (Dubai the Pearl of the World), setting off a blaze of colour and noise above Dubai Creek and then spreading across a 6 km distance over Business Bay and right up to the Shindagah area.

"We have also added new activities that will not only entertain visitors but also enlighten their minds and broaden their horizons. At the same time we have retained the popular events and sites, such as the Carpet and Arts Oasis and the key destinations like Al Seef Street, Al Riqqa Street and Emaar Boulevard. We have added new elements so that visitors can find something fresh and exciting at every DSF destination. A new and exciting venue, the Festival Promenade at Dubai Festival City will give that extra spark to our calendar of family-oriented activities" the spokesperson added.

Based on the three pillars of Shopping, Entertainment and Winning, DSF 2012 is set to roll out an exciting mix of hundreds of events and activities.

Festival Promenade at Dubai Festival the newest DSF destination, will celebrate DSF 2012 with a progamme packed with excitement and great merry-making. You may bump into celebrity look-alikes from Hollywood, the Sporting World and Royalty, or get pleasantly surprised by performances given by 'sound-alikes' of famous artists. For the connoisseur of music, there are gifted performers, who will be using a wide range of instruments at their disposal - the harp, oud, flute, saxophone, tabla and cello - to showcase their talents.

Some of the main streets of Dubai will resound to family-oriented activities throughout the month, each street providing events and attractions based on specific themes.

If you happen to be at Al Riqqa Street, make sure you do not miss the Monte Carlo circus or the Night Souk, where one can pick up more bargains and special offers. Al Riqqa will also host a funfair and an area to engage oneself in games of skill. This year, the focus will be on culture at Al Seef Street with several folk dancers and entertainers dressed in colourful costumes of their respective countries. Besides, street performers and the daily fireworks show at Al Seef are bound to put you in the festive mood.

Hundreds of street performers including acrobats, jugglers, stilt walkers, unicyclists, dancers and musicians from will descend on Emaar Boulevard to entertain and simply give DSF visitors give an overwhelming feeling that DSF is back, bigger and brighter.

The line-up of live concerts will be led by the Layali Dubai series that will take place at the weekends at Burj Steps. Here, you will get an opportunity to see the super entertainers of the Arab world in action. Additionally, talented singers from other countries including India and Philippine will join in the DSF celebrations by performing live elsewhere in Dubai.

The Carpet and Arts Oasis 2012 that is taking place at the Dubai Airport Expo is a dream destination for those who have a penchant for carpets and arts featuring over 150,000 largest, rarest and unique carpets and art exhibits.

DSF will also host conferences and exhibitions that will highlight Dubai's position as an international hub of excellence.

To get a feel of different cultures and cuisine, or to buy handmade products from around the world, Global Village is the place to go while the Heritage and Diving Village will continue to be a major DSF attraction by presenting the charming history of UAE in its unique manner.

DSF has become a magnet for shoppers mainly because of its shopping-linked raffles and promotions that offer visitors an array of prizes. DSF 2012 is no different with shoppers getting numerous opportunities to win big including a luxury Infiniti QX 56 model worth AED 350,000, one of eight different Nissan models and half a kilo of gold daily for 32 days.

For those who want to hit the nature trail, the DSF Desert Camp is the ideal outdoor activity. Families and visitors have the option of renting tents for days or choosing from the endless number of activities designed for adventure enthusiasts.

Local and regional journalists will be vying for the DSF Journalism Award, another DSF attraction that was established to honour the initiatives taken by local and regional journalists in promoting DSF. There is also the DSF Photography Award, which was instituted along with the Journalism Award to honour press photographers for their creativity in capturing the essence of DSF through images.

DSF 2012 Sponsors

Meanwhile, key DSF sponsors, who have played a key role in the growth of DFS, are looking forward to the 17^th edition of DSF and to welcoming thousands of visitors from around the world. This edition of DSF is supported by Burjuman , Jumbo Electronics , Dubai Gold & Jewelry Group, EmiratesNBD and Visa International

Eisa Adam Ibrahim, General Manager at BurJuman , said: " BurJuman has always been a proud supporter of the annual Dubai Shopping Festival and we are once again excited to be conducting this year's festivities as a key sponsor. The extraordinary promotions and events happening during the 2012 DSF edition are surely going to be a confirmation of the new festival theme 'Best in Dubai' as retail establishments go beyond merely offering sales discounts but add up to their overall entertainment offering.

BurJuman visitors this DSF can look forward to the opportunity of winning AED 75,000 worth of shopping vouchers or even the chance to drive away with a BMW X5 2012, whilst striking deals of 25% to 75% at participating outlets will act as an additional attractor.

With Power Puff Girls concerts and meet & greets with the Cartoon Network trio as well as the action filled show of artist extraordinaire Jose Luis Quiceno, who creates stunning paintings whilst simultaneously performing dance and gymnastics, the entertainment portfolio at BurJuman this DSF is sure to dazzle children and adults alike".

Anan Fakhreddin, Chairman of the Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group, said: "This year we look forward to offering exciting DSF promotions in line with the increased consumer interest in gold, diamond and pearl jewellery. We are proud to be a long term strategic partner of the Dubai Shopping Festival, and we are confident that this year's edition will be one of the most successful ever."

Saif Al Mansoori, Deputy Head - Group Marketing & Branding , Emirates NBD, said:"The annual Dubai Shopping Festival is one of the leading government-backed initiatives in Dubai specifically focused on the retail and tourism sectors, which are two of the strongest pillars of Dubai's economy," said Saif Al Mansoori, Deputy Head - Group Marketing & Branding, Emirates NBD. "Emirates NBD is pleased to sponsor the Dubai Shopping Festival for the 17^th consecutive year, as this is in line with the bank's strategic objective to support community-related initiatives that also contribute to the economy."

"Over the years, DSF has emerged as a mega tourist attraction that draws tourists from across the globe, and provides entertainment and fun for the whole family. In 2011, DSF attracted around 3.9 million visitors to Dubai, and this year, it is expected to further strengthen the retail and tourism sectors in the country."

Nadeem Khanzadah, Head of Retail at Jumbo Electronics : "We are proud to be the key sponsor of the Dubai Shopping Festival for the 17th consecutive year. Dubai Shopping Festival will kick-off the New Year on a high note and will enhance the city's position as the best shopping destination with the best deals across all segments. We look forward to adding extra value for our local customers and enhancing the Dubai shopping experience for international and GCC tourists. This year, Jumbo will be giving customers the chance to win gold everyday of the festival along with fantastic deals on the latest Sony 3D Internet TVs, smartphones, tablets and laptops.

To prepare for the large footfall expected during the month of DSF, we have shifted our gadget centric "Unwired" store in the Dubai Mall to a bigger location. The concept format of "Unwired" store has witnessed tremendous success and customer acceptance. With this bigger location we aim to provide an even better customer experience and a larger selection of the latest products we have to offer. We also recently launched the UAE's first Sony Concept Showroom in our Mall of the Emirates store which provides customers with a unique destination to explore the complete Sony experience within a new brand design concept. During DSF, we will offer great deals on our range of Sony products and will also be launching the new Sony tablet during the festival.

Karim Beg, Visa's Head of Regional Marketing for MENA, said: "Visa is delighted to sponsor the Dubai Shopping Festival for the seventeenth consecutive year. Since its launch back in 1996, DSF has developed into the region's leading shopping and entertainment event, attracting an international crowd and becoming a major contributor to the development of Dubai. Visa is proud to be part of this amazing achievement and looks forward to creating memorable moments and unique cardholder experiences with DSF in 2012.

"Visa is always looking to create rewarding lifestyle experiences for Visa credit and Visa debit cardholders. With so many shoppers descending on Dubai to enjoy all that DSF has to offer, this is the perfect opportunity to reward people for using their Visa cards."

Indeed, with so many events, activities and rewards, awaiting shoppers, DSF 2012 promises to be the best ever in the history of this unique regional extravaganza.

-Ends-

About Dubai Shopping Festival:
Launched in 1996 under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai to position Dubai as a leading tourist destination, Dubai Shopping Festival offers one of the best shopping experiences in the world and is the pioneering innovator of shopping destination tourism.

Under the DSF 2012 theme 'Dubai at its Best', the Dubai Shopping Festival will once again bring together the best in shopping and events alongside amazing opportunities to win big. With promotional offers and discounts of up to 75% across 70 malls and 6000 shops throughout the city, more than AED 100 million worth of raffles and prizes up for grabs including luxury cars, gold and cash, and more than 150 indoor and outdoor events during the 32-day festival, including local and international sporting, theatrical and musical events, street carnivals, night souks, art exhibitions, fashion shows and culture and heritage activities, DSF brings to Dubai a world of entertainment for all ages and nationalities

DSF has become an engine of growth and diversification for Dubai's retail sector, adding an average of AED 10 billion in revenue annually. The festival has effectively brought Dubai's business community together in a citywide retail and tourism celebration that has had sustained growth and success for 16 consecutive years.

© Press Release 2012