CURTAINS FALL AT DSF 2008

32-day long celebration of over a hundred events concludes

It’s time to say goodbye to yet another spectacular edition of Dubai Shopping Festival which leaves us with lots of happy memories and snapshots to last a lifetime. DSF is an all-encompassing festival which is not just about shopping but much more. Of course, shopping is the core element of this iconic festival but in addition to that DSF also offers entertainment with cultural extravaganzas as well as winning opportunities.

Artists and performers from all over the world are invited to perform at various venues throughout the emirate. The grand raffles and other draws invite everyone to try their luck at winning. DSF has changed many a life by making new millionaires overnight.

This year’s festival was the thirteenth edition of DSF which started back in 1996 on a much smaller scale. DSF 2006-2007, the longest ever edition of the festival had 3.5 million visitors and witnessed visitor spending of AED10.2 billion. The response received this year was over-whelming as visitors came to Dubai from all corners of the world to see the festivities in action. Visitors loved the shopping and enjoyed the events and also walked away with some fabulous rewards.

It is known the world over that Dubai offers an unparalleled shopping experience but there’s nothing better than shopping during the DSF. The point was further proved this year as malls recorded higher footfalls which also converted into tangible business. Participating retailers offered some incredible discounts this time around as they slashed their prices by 50 to 70 per cent. Everything from clothing, fashion accessories, jewellery, shoes, household items, bags, furniture, electronics and even cars came with rewards for the buyers. While the prices were marked down drastically, also on offer were freebies and opportunities to win rewards in millions.

For shopaholics there’s nothing like the DSF. With sales and discounts across the board on top brands and stores, it’s hard not to shop during this time of year. Visitors could shop throughout the day and night at the Night Souq which opened daily from 6pm until 2 in the morning giving a chance to shop under the stars.

DSF is well-known for catering to everyone from young children, teens, men, women, families, and even senior citizens, there is something for everybody here. A number of DSF venues such as Al Seef Street, Festival Park and Muraqqbat Street offered fun-fair and other cultural feasts. Al Seef Street this year was the venue of the Art Avenue, a collaboration of the DSF and Dubai Cultural Council. The Art Avenue was like a huge art fair which brought together established as well as upcoming artists and crafters to interact with each other and exhibit their works. Every evening the artists would get together by Bur Dubai Creek and unleash their creativity. Not only was it a great opportunity for art lovers to see the artists at works but it also gave an interface to acquaint the general public with art. A big draw for everyone Art Avenue also has classes for kids.

The DSF Office introduced some new entertainment concepts during DSF 2008 like the Weekend Packages that was designed to provide visitors three days of excitement and entertainment. Throughout the weekends, international shows made their Middle East debut in Dubai during DSF 2008. Shows like the ‘Journey’, ‘Dance of Fire and Light’, and ‘Flying Arts’ brought a new dimension to DSF entertainment this year.

The Weekend Packages also included the colourful Dubai Carnivals by Etisalat and the Al Zarooni Fireworks Festival. The fireworks displayed throughout DSF 2008 were among the most sophisticated in the Middle East yet.

The signature events of DSF 2008 continued be popular amongst visitors with events like Dubai Fashion, Creations, House of Talents, and Guinness World Records, attracting huge visitor and media attention.

Musical shows and concerts were probably the biggest hits of DSF 2008 as thousands of music fans in Dubai got treated to a host of world-renowned artists. These included Tamer Hosni, Amr Diab, and the legendary Carlos Santana. Audience numbers for each these concerts ran into thousands with tickets for the Santana concert sold out a week before the show.

Food lovers too had their share of excitement as the nine-day-long Dubai Food Festival held at Uptown Mirdiff from January 25 to February 2, 2008 took them on a gastronomic journey around the world. Dubai’s top eateries and restaurants participated in this festival bringing the best cuisines on a platter quite literally. Visiting and resident chefs showed the culinary prowess and won over the hearts of hundreds of visitors who attended the event. With daily cooking competitions and demonstrations it was a festival filled with action, live events and lots of good food.

For those with a sporty bone there was the Pepsi Sports Fiesta held at Safa Park from February 1 to February 24, 2008. The event had participation by school teams as well as amateur teams who competed with each other in various games such as basketball, football and slam jam tournaments. It was pitched to the youth of Dubai to give an impetus to aspiring and upcoming sporting talent in the country.

Today, Dubai might be included in one of the top destinations in the world but the city never forgets its roots and makes it a point to pay a tribute to its humble beginnings. A rich past of Bedouin culture unfolds at the Heritage and Diving Village which offers cultural events, shows as well as exhibitions to showcase the past. Traditional food served in the old style cafes complete the journey into those good old days.

The majlis welcomes all visitors to partake of the old-style coffee giving a glimpse of the rich tradition of Arabian hospitality. Camels and horses, making up an integral part of Dubai’s past are also a part of the exhibition which showcases how they helped in day-to-day life in those days when automobiles and machinery was unheard of. It’s a unique journey worth taking and during the DSF it becomes all the more relevant to be in touch with the roots of this celebration.

The daily fireworks taking place at Dubai Creek have been a highlight of the 32-day long fiesta. The night sky glittered with light and colour as the fireworks ascended into the air their sound echoing throughout the city every evening during the DSF. Spectators watch in awe the sound and light show which is said to be one of the best in the world. Throughout the DSF people look forward to the daily fireworks and that’s when the traffic comes to a standstill for a few minutes as drivers stop by to catch a glimpse of the scintillating skies. It’s a perfect end to an action-packed day.

Posted : 24/02/2008
Source : Editor, GoDubai.com