JEDDAH — The number of visitors from Saudi Arabia to Dubai reached one million and three hundred in 2014 and an increase of 10% expected this summer festival 2015, according to an official of the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE). Speaking here in Jeddah on Sunday as part of Dubai Summer Festival Roadshow, Saeed Mohammed Mesam Al Falasi, Director, Strategic Alliances Division DFRE, said Dubai Foundation for festivals has chosen the holy month of Ramadan to be a gateway to the spectacular summer festivals this world. He stressed that "the demand for Dubai's summer festival 2014, which was held last year was very positive. The festival not only attracted large numbers of Saudi visitors, but also led to a large influx of visitors from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and other countries in the region." According to Al Falasi, DFRE highlighted the array of special events, festivities and promotions planned from June until September - Ramadan in Dubai (19 June – 17 July), Eid in Dubai – Eid Al Fitr (18 July – 22 July), Modhesh World (9 July –29 August), Dubai Summer Surprises (23 July – 5 September) and Eid in Dubai – Eid Al Adha (24 September– 2 October). He also said: “Dubai is a city built for summer. From the vast choices offered to visitors in terms of indoor entertainment and attractions, concerts, shopping promotions and winning opportunities, to the city's robust tourism infrastructure and comfortable means of mass transport and the great value packages offered by leading players in the hospitality, tourism and aviation industries, family travel to Dubai in summer is a highly attractive proposition.” “Inbound tourism figures during key summer festival periods such as DSS and the Eid holidays are amongst the highest in the year, supporting the city's goal of achieving the Tourism Vision 2020 of attracting 20 million visitors by 2020. This year's exciting festival and events calendar will give residents and visitors many more great reasons to enjoy Dubai during the summer, firmly positioning the emirate as a year-round family tourism destination.” “Over the years the DSS roadshow has proved to be an excellent way for us to understand what elements of the tourism offering prove the most popular with our regional audiences and this has helped us continue to improve, innovate and build the Dubai summer calendar of events into a dynamic and exciting offering year after year. The roadshow is very warmly received by our partners, agents and audiences across the GCC and proves to be the best platform to showcase the diverse range of activities, shows, attractions and family offerings that form a part of Dubai's summer campaign,” added Al Falasi. He pointed out that a total of 13.2 million foreigners headed to Dubai in 2014 and an increase of 8.2 percent expected this year. Ramadan in Dubai - A month-long campaign inspired by the values of the Holy Month which will include social, cultural and community events such as the 14th Dubai Ramadan Forum; Dubai International Holy Quran Award; Ramadan Night Market and Ramadan Tents across the city. Eid in Dubai – Eid Al Fitr is once again set to be a period of celebration with a number of major superstars descending on stage for the much-anticipated Layali Concert series and spectacular fireworks displays lighting up The Beach, JBR every night during the Eid holidays. 2015 will see the best and biggest-ever edition of Modhesh World brought to life through the theme “Every Step is a New Adventure”. Modhesh World 2015 will be occupying over 34,000 square metres at the well-connected and centrally located Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC). Eight halls, each with its own identity and themed adventures, will feature many new world-class attractions including The Slide, an attraction for children and adults, and the mystifying Mirror Maze. Visitors will be able to scale the heights of fun on high-energy attractions such as Fly Jump and Valkyrie, an interactive simulator that will pit players in a thrilling competition. Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) – the flagship festival and centerpiece of Dubai's dynamic calendar of summer activities has a packed packed calendar of events and promotions including the crowd-pulling DSS Arabic Concerts featuring Diana Haddad, Nawal Kuwaitia, Abdullah Rawaished, Hussain Al Jasmi and Kadim Al Sahir; in-mall events and celebrity concerts and appearances; international cartoon stage shows popular with families featuring well-loved Looney Tunes characters such as Bugs Bunny, Tweety & Sylvester and Daffy Duck & Taz; Cartoon Network Fiesta (featuring Ben 10 and The Powerpuff Girls); Power Rangers Live; Gumball; Dora the Explorer and Diego Live; Blaze – International Dance Spectacular; Madagascar Live; Kids Fashion Fest; Circus Fiesta; Modhesh Meet & Greet; Art Attack Live and the magical Chinese State Circus – Swan Lake Edition. The summer extravaganza will come to a spectacular close during Eid in Dubai – Eid Al Adha – which will feature Arabian Nights, an edutainment puppet theatre show, fireworks and in-mall events. In addition to all of the above, Dubai will witness the most number of Retail Promotions in a single summer season this year with AED 5.5 million worth of prizes up for grabs at a series of promotions running across the summer. The DSS Apprenticeship Program will celebrate its 10th anniversary edition this year, making it the region's longest-running and most successful destination marketing internship program. Over the past decade, the DSS Apprenticeship Program has given close to 100 young marketers the opportunity to work on one of the biggest tourism events and marketing success stories of the Arab world. The DSS Apprenticeship Program's ongoing success is underscored by the decision to take the program global in 2015 – reaching out to 20 markets including Russia, India, and China. Rounding off the amazing family offering in 2015 will be a series of Spa & Leisure Promotions featuring discounts, special deals and packages at a host of leading spas and leisure venues.
