Since February 1996 Dubai has held the Dubai Shopping Festival, where retailers offer massive discounts on their products. This has a mass impact on visitor numbers and generates much revenue for the UAE.

Visitors from all over the world flock to this event for tax free shopping, and to take place in many of the raffles and see the amazing firework displays in the evening. The internationally recognised event is the definitive place to shop in the New Year and opportunities to get such great bargains are difficult to pass by.

More than 5 million people took a trip to Dubai in 2008 to visit the two most popular shopping areas, the Mall of Emirates and Deira city centre. However retail therapy isn‚t the only reason people visit the Dubai Shopping Festival, an array of entertainment such as world renowned dance acts and musical groups are there to make the shopping experience much more enjoyable.