After a break of two years the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) is returning and it promises to contribute more than ever to the Dubai economy. The combined 11th and 12th edition of DSF will be the longest edition ever with a 45-day run. And industry analysts have forecast the retail spending during the shopping festival to be at least 20 per cent higher than the dhs6.67 billion recorded in 2005.

Moreover, the DSF retail revenue is expected to touch, if not surpass, the dhs8 billion mark, which staggeringly will account for about eight per cent of Dubai’s GDP of dhs110billion. With its extended run, the DSF 2006-2007 is poised to attract around 3.6 million visitors which will be at least 15 per cent higher visitor turnout as compared to last year. It has 27 key sponsors to strengthen and support it, with over 3,000 retail outlets expected to join in the city wide shopping frenzy and add to the momentum of the grand shopping fiesta.

As in the past editions of DSF the shopping malls are expecting higher footfall and better response to the retail promotions and sales coming up in the next two months, and sponsors are more than likely to see the upcoming DSF as a great opportunity to reap good revenues. In line with its core theme One World, One Family, One Festival, this year’s mega edition is being dubbed as ‘A World of Festivals’ encompassing a dozen festivals to cater to different tastes, interests and age-groups.

The DSF’s contribution to the economy emphasises the growing diversity of the local economy and the fact that it is no longer propelled forward by oil revenues, with tourism and trade becoming integral to the Emirate’s growth.