The huge boom in tourism in the UAE, and the prospect of 200 or more new hotels in the next five years, is keeping mall operators confident about the future. Last week saw the unveiling of dozens of new hotel projects in the country which has three huge shopping malls under construction, all set to open by late 2008.

Dubai, premium gifts centre

Premium 2005, a gifts and incentives trade show in Dubai, attracted more than 3,500 buyers from 49 countries. At the conclusion of the three-day event exhibitors said that Dubai was emerging as the regional capital of the premium products industry.

Le Meridien, a taste of Oz

Le Meridien Dubai has opened Yalumba, a restaurant which specialises in modern Australian cuisine. The restaurant serves a daily breakfast buffet, a business lunch on weekdays, a seafood night, and Friday brunch. Guests have a choice of al fresco dining and private areas.

Dubai Pearl, another huge mall

The Dubai Pearl development opposite The Palm, Jumeriah, now includes a huge shopping mall on three levels which will be one of the biggest in the world, said officials at the Cityscape exhibition. Plans for The Pearl Dubai have been extensively revised to include more retail space which should open in late 2008.

'Dubai - shopping capital of Mideast'
Almost 30 per cent of Dubai's total tourist intake originates from exhibitions and events that are increasingly attracting visitors to the emirate. By offering the world's best brands at the best prices, Dubai has established itself as the shopping capital of the Middle East, while the UAE in general, has emerged as the events and exhibitions hub of the region, noted a report published in the UAE Yearbook, 2003.

The report drew particular reference to the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) that is a major highlight in the calendar of events. DSF 2002 registered a growth figure of five per cent, taking the total number of shoppers to 2.68 million, offering them bargains, attractive raffle prizes and carnival atmosphere. The official web site of DSF, http://www.mydsf.com, recorded over 25 million hits during 2002.

The Global Village remained the most popular and colourful venue of DSF 2002, offering something for every member of the family, from shopping rides and stage shows to food courts. It attracted in excess of 2.5 million visitors over the 31 days of the event. The dates of DSF 2003 which sported the theme 'one world, one family, one festival', were advanced because research indicated that families liked to stay in Dubai for longer periods during the festival.

In another record-breaking year, Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS 2002) posted an 18 per cent rise in the number of visitors, crossing the 1.3 million mark, while total spending rose 19 per cent from Dh118 million in 2001 to Dh1.3 billion in 2002. Mall traffic registered a sharp increase of 26 per cent to 7.56 million while total spending at the malls was worth Dh1.15 billion, a rise of 14.2 per cent. Modhesh Fun City attracted 259,000 visitors, including 127,000 children, during the 72-day extravaganza, and the festival's mascot Modhesh has become a household name and one of the most popular cartoon characters among children in the Gulf region.

Dubai will be in high gear again this year, which will host the 58th board meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in September. The high-profile event will focus global media and government attention on the UAE and present yet another opportunity to showcase its attractions. The UAE was selected for its highly developed transportation and logistics infrastructure, growing importance as a financial hub and its established position as the Crossroads for the New Global Economy, the report added. (The Khaleej Times)