Gold sales could nearly double at the DSF

With the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) beginning tomorrow, the chairman of a leading industry association in the emirate has said that gold sales in Dubai could almost double last year's total.

The DSF runs until February 2nd and vistors will be encouraged to purchase jewellery from a range of brands such as Tiffany, Cartier, Pasquale Bruni and Chopard.

According to Saeed Al Nabouda, CEO of the DSF, there will be over 3,000 retail outlets participating in the exhibition and he described the event as "the ultimate shopping experience".

"This year we expect the gold sales to rise by almost 45 per cent during Dubai shopping festival," Tawhid Abdullah of the Gold and Jewellery Group stated.

He added: "Last year, the sales hit $150 million (£76 million) and this year we are expecting gold sales to hit $220 million."

Al Naboudah went on to say that the DSF will cement Dubai's role as the leading place in the region for shopping and tourism.