This year’s Abu Dhabi Summer Shopping and Dining Season has defied the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by recording impressive growth in retail spending.
Led by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi’s (DCT Abu Dhabi) industry enablers, Retail Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Culinary, the summer campaign achieved a record 56 per cent year-on-year growth in sales using Visa cards alone across 24 malls and 4,000 stores, as reported by Visa, the global digital payment leader and strategic partner of Abu Dhabi Shopping and Dining Season.
The successful campaign saw several first-in-the-region promotions and interactive experiences, including Summer of Style, Summer of Ice Cream, and Summer of Offers.
The highlights of Summer of Style included a stylists programme featuring appearances from global trendsetters Anna Dello Russo and Anya Ziourova; a fashion gala dinner with music icon Rita Ora; Summer Sessions, a full week of home styling and fashion workshops; and a line-up of exclusive pieces from luxury brands including Burberry, Dior, Fendi and more.
“Supporting both the retail and F&B sectors is a key mandate for DCT Abu Dhabi and plays a critical role in boosting economic growth and uplifting consumer engagement across the emirate,” said HE Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi. “We are delighted by the extraordinary results that have been achieved. This successful seasonal campaign has again demonstrated the strength of the emirate’s retail and culinary sectors, as well as confirming DCT Abu Dhabi’s commitment to delivering compelling experiences across our ever-expanding calendar of themed promotions and events.”
