Dubai Shopping Festival was launched in 1996 under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, to position Dubai as a leading tourist destination and to stimulate the economic and tourism sectors in the city. The concept was the first of its kind in the region and proved to be highly successful mainly due to the close cooperation between the government and the private sectors.
Dubai Shopping Festival is one of the international events organised annually by the Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (formerly DSF Office). It has become a global attraction today and a distinguished landmark in the global festivals industry, offering the best in shopping, winning and family entertainment. The DSF theme of ''One World, One Family, One Festival'' is a reflection of the event''s universal appeal and attracts millions of visitors from all over the world every year.
Dubai Shopping Festival was initiated with two key objectives in mind: to promote Dubai as the ultimate global shopping and tourist destination by creating world class events and retail promotions, and to set the benchmark for events and festivals around the world
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