Dubai Shopping Festival begins

By Rizwan Khatik - Fri Jan 06, 9:42 am

DUBAI: Spectacular musical flares lit up the skies over a 6km stretch from Festival Promenade to Shindhagha, ushering in the 17th edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) on Thursday.

This year’s DSF, which will go on till February 5, featured  15 solo musicians from countries around the world playing the oud, harp, cello, violin and other musical instruments continuously as the crowd watching the five-minute fireworks display staring at the skies in awe.

Leila Suhail, who launched DSF 2012, with Vishesh Bhatia, president of New Strategic Growth Group, which partnered Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (Depe) in this event, said the ceremony coupled with a gathering to thank the media for its support.

“I am proud of  Dubai for its strong brand in terms of festivals that make the whole city festive. The DSF has succeeded in putting Dubai on the map of  key ping destinations in the region and in the world.

She said that three quarters or 78 percent of regional and international visitors regarded DSF 2011 as a world leading event. “Almost nine out of ten regional and international visitors or 87 percent were arew of DSF prior to arriving.

Suhail also said that UAE residents alone spent AED6.2 billion on shopping alone to buy electronics, including computers, laptops, tablets and mobile phones, clothes, fashion items and accessories were the most popular purchases in DSF 2011.