Attendance at the Dubai Shopping Festival Desert Camp has jumped 15 per cent this year, according to organisers.
Demand was strong over the Eid holidays and looks set to continue, Yusif Mubarak, Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) director of events, told Gulf News.
The recent wet weather failed to put a damper on activities, and everything has continued as normal, organisers said.
People have asked for the families-only camp to be extended beyond the end of DSF on February 12, although organisers said this is unlikely to be possible.
Among the features of the camp are a mini zoo, a cinema for youngsters and a traditional coffee shop.
The camp has separate areas for girls and boys, in keeping with Islamic traditions.
"The desert camp has been fully booked. People are coming in large numbers, partly because of the holidays," Mubarak said.
"The camp is here for people to come and enjoy having a good time. Families are enjoying it a lot.
"There should definitely be more people than last year. People are calling us to say we should extend the desert camp's run this year, but we cannot do that unless we have an order."
Most activities take place under cover, so the rainfall seen in Dubai on Friday and Sunday did not disrupt the camp's events, he said.
Exact attendance figures were not yet available, but the first 10 days of DSF had seen a rise of about 15 per cent compared to the number of visitors in 2004, he said.
In previous years, the DSF Desert Camp at Mushrif Park has proved most popular with families from the UAE, as well as families from other GCC countries.
It is designed to give parents and children a glimpse of what traditional life in the UAE was like.
Old-style gatherings, or majlis, are organised in keeping with this theme. There is a heritage house with an entertainment show called Dubai in the Past.
Other activities at the camp, which is organised by Bel Romaitha Club and sponsored by the Dubai Development Board, include horse riding and cooking lessons.
On average, families stay two days at the camp, Mubarak said.
Families keen to visit the camp should book in advance to avoid disappointment, he said.
The Desert Camp has "adequate security", along with an ambulance to deal with emergencies, DSF organisers said.
Anyone interested in booking a place at the camp should call 04-289-1337. The Safari Tent costs Dh250 a night, and the Royal Tent Dh500.
Gulf News
