DSF now a global event
As a Key Sponsor of Dubai Shopping Festival, Visa has truly enhanced the shopping experience during the festival's 20th edition by offering visitors from around the world the convenience of fast and hassle-free electronic payment options packed with exciting offers and opportunities to win fabulous prizes. DSF is organized by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), and this year it will run until 1 February under the theme "20th Anniversary - A Journey of Celebrations".
In an interview with the Media Centre of DFRE, Mr. Marcello Baricordi, General Manager UAE and Global Accounts Lead at Visa Inc. MENA, stated that DSF is one of the most important times of the year for Visa 's marketing and promotional efforts in Dubai. It is also a period when Visa makes a significant investment in its continuing partnership with DFRE, he added.
In fact, given the rapid shift towards electronic payments in Dubai over the last several years, Visa - the official payment partner of the Dubai Shopping Festival 2015 - has recorded a double digit growth in Visa spend since the festival kicked off in 1996.
Speaking about DSF's role in strengthening the overall economic development of Dubai, Mr. Baricordi said that everything from small cafes to locally-based hospitality and retail establishments that participate in DSF are able to reap the benefits of the international exposure DSF enjoys, further adding that Visa believes that DSF has also paved the way for accelerating the electronic payments infrastructure in the country, bringing it at par with other advanced economies.
Sharing financial data from last year's edition of DSF, Mr. Baricordi said that Visa saw increased spending on cards at DSF 2014 with 1.9 million Visa cards being used for 9.8 million transactions during the event. The result was a total of US $1.5 billion in Visa card spend both domestically and internationally. He added further that results from the company's Visa Vue® Travel data service indicate that international visitors to the UAE spent US$578 million on their Visa cards over the month-long festival in 2014.
Highlights:
Double digit growth in Visa spend since DSF began in 1996
1.9 million Visa cards used for 9.8 million transactions during DSF 2014 resulting in US $1.5 billion in Visa card spend both domestically and internationally
Visa cardholders can win fabulous prizes in 'Shop, Spin and Win' promotion this DSF
The Dubai Shopping Festival has become synonymous with this city and is one of the most significant initiatives that the Government of Dubai has undertaken in the past 20 years to place Dubai on the global map for retail, investment and tourism. Over the years, DSF has increased its outreach and campaign to attract shoppers from all over the world.
As one of the region's biggest retail event, DSF has created a platform for Visa to interact with consumers, and encourage them to benefit from the safety and convenience of transacting with Visa .
