Dubai is known for upscale shopping and lavish department stores. It is, in fact home to the world's largest shopping mall. The city started off the new year with the Dubai Shopping Festival.
"The festival began in 1996 as an initiative of the Dubai government to promote trade, and it gets bigger and better every year. DSF is not only a retail festival, but also a family festival with a large focus on mall-based entertainment and early evening shows," The festival's website states.
CNN reported that it is now one of the world's largest shopping events and a huge draw for tourism. Festivities began on January 3 and go on until February 3. Some retailers are offering up to 75 percent off throughout Dubai on everything from clothing to jewelry to carpets and electronics.
The large Mall of Emirates has even hired a circus to perform in the mall several times a day Tuesday through Saturday.
They also have a "Global Village" theme par which is the largest seasonal shopping and entertainment theme park in the region. It "offers its visitors amazing array of festivals where the world comes together. This entertainment and shopping destination is open for 161 days and host 70 participating countries presented in 36 pavilions, including eight new ones, more than 50 fun rides and 26 restaurants offering food from around the world," says the festival's website.
The Dubai Gold and Jewelry Group is also having a raffle with prizes in gold that total US $1.2 million. CNN reported that Nissan is also having a raffle where on person a day will win one of 12 cars.
For more information, see www.dubaievents.ae.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
