The Dubai Shopping Festival’s 20th edition will kick off at the start of 2015, and is expected to receive more than four and half million Saudi visitors with an increase of five to eight percent over last year, according to organizers.

With over four million Saudi visitors in 2014, Dubai considers the Saudi market significant in terms of being the largest compared to visitors and tourists from other Arab countries, Saeed Al-Falasi, director of Strategic Alliances Division, told Arab News.

During a press conference held in Jeddah’s Hilton hotel on Saturday, Al-Falasi invited GCC citizens and Saudis in particular to visit Dubai and enjoy the month-long fun-filled events, shopping deals and get a chance to win prizes.

“The shopping festival will end on Feb. 1 and will be followed by the food festival which gives visitors the opportunity to enjoy two different festivals at one go,” he added.

The conference comes in the light of a promotional tour by festival organizers in countries of the Gulf Corporation Council. Laila Suhail, CEO of Dubai festivals and retail establishment, said the Gulf countries have always been an important market for Dubai and its shopping festival. “GCC countries have the most number of visitors coming to Dubai,” she said, pointing out that the shopping festival has changed dramatically over the past two decades to include different entertainment activities and events that enrich the festive experience to more than that of a mere shopping festival. Famous Arab artists will host live concerts throughout the festival, Al-Falasi said, adding that other planned events include theater plays, entertainment shows such as a circus, cartoon and jewelry and fashion shows, as well as fireworks.

Al-Falasi also said that visitors will have the chance to win many prizes during the festival. “The Gold and Jewelry Group has allocated 100 kg of gold and 45 carats of diamonds to be given out to the lucky winners,” he said.

Shoppers would also have the chance to win two Infinity cars, 100,000 dirhams in cash as well as the daily draw on Nissan cars.

The 20th edition of the shopping festival is a celebration of Dubai’s journey toward excellence and becoming the world’s top shopping destination which combines the traditional shopping experience with that of international brand names.

The events will include an attempt to set a new world record by making the longest gold chain by hand.

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