Shopkeepers in Dubai will not have to pay licence fees to launch sales as the stores open around the clock this coming Eid, relieving them of a financial burden.
Retailers normally have to pay a fee and seek approval from Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (Depe) if they wish to put on a promotion, with permits often taking up to 10 days to be approved.
But this Eid, Depe will waive all fees usually levied to retailers and wants stores to focus on attracting early morning shoppers.
"Retailers will be granted blanket permit [sic] to run any type of promotion during the period 18th October to 2nd November, 2012, which should be late night early morning sales, discounts and special offers," said a circular to retailers seen by The National.
"However, participating outlet [sic] are expected to run additional promotions on weekends to promote late night and early morning shopping."
For three consecutive weekends over the Eid period, beginning on Thursday next week, stores will open in malls from 10am on Thursday and stay open right through until 1am the following Sunday.
Depe is encouraging retailers in the emirate to run promotions to coax shoppers to the malls at what are likely to be quieter periods during the middle of the night and in the early morning.
"All outlets located in participating shopping malls will not be charged any fees to run promotions during this period," said the circular, without specifying what the normal fees were for promotions.
"DED [Department of Economic Development] will conduct random inspection [sic] in shopping malls hence offers have to be clearly highlighted and communicated to consumers," it added.
Depe declined to comment on the move yesterday.
Despite the mounting extra work required in running stores for 24 hours a day, retailers welcomed the move to waive fees and hoped promotions would drive traffic during quieter hours.
Nadeem Khanzadah, the head of retail at Jumbo Electronics, said the gadget and electronics store would run promotions during Eid, even after a busy Gitex Shopper event last week.
"There's some Eid activity and GCC tourists," he said. "We will look at running some promotions because the local residents have bought at Gitex, but Eid will see more Saudi and Qatari tourists."
Jumbo is examining promotions on specific products, such as smartphones, rather than a blanket promotion across its full range of electronics, said Mr Khanzadah.
Other retailers were less sanguine about the prospect of being encouraged to put on promotions because the extra work involved in opening for such an extended period is set to increase costs.
"They are obviously not retailers who are deciding these things," said one retailer, who asked not to be named.
"They are increasing our costs, then encouraging us to do promotions, which lower our profits and margins. Our margins dip and our costs increase."
Dubai Shopping Malls Group (DSMG), in association with Depe, yesterday announced it would give away cash prizes worth Dh1 million (US$272,257) during the Eid period, with 20 malls participating.
"Through our established network of member malls, we will ensure that the malls share the same festive spirit in Dubai and align with the Government's effort to boost tourism and the retail sector," said Majid Al Ghurair, the chairman of DSMG.
"Dubai has always been known for record-breaking initiatives and as always the city is living up to its reputation of being the quintessential value shopping destination, bringing an all new experience for its people."
rjones@thenational.ae
MATCH INFO
Norwich 0
Watford 2 (Deulofeu 2', Gray 52')
Red card: Christian Kabasele (WatforD)
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The five pillars of Islam
RESULTS
Bantamweight title:
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) bt Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
(KO round 2)
Catchweight 68kg:
Sean Soriano (USA) bt Noad Lahat (ISR)
(TKO round 1)
Middleweight:
Denis Tiuliulin (RUS) bt Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
(TKO round 1)
Lightweight:
Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR) bt Joachim Tollefsen (DEN)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 68kg:
Austin Arnett (USA) bt Daniel Vega (MEX)
(TKO round 3)
Lightweight:
Carrington Banks (USA) bt Marcio Andrade (BRA)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 58kg:
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) bt Malin Hermansson (SWE)
(Submission round 2)
Bantamweight:
Jalal Al Daaja (CAN) bt Juares Dea (CMR)
(Split decision)
Middleweight:
Mohamad Osseili (LEB) bt Ivan Slynko (UKR)
(TKO round 1)
Featherweight:
Tarun Grigoryan (ARM) bt Islam Makhamadjanov (UZB)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 54kg:
Mariagiovanna Vai (ITA) bt Daniella Shutov (ISR)
(Submission round 1)
Middleweight:
Joan Arastey (ESP) bt Omran Chaaban (LEB)
(Unanimous decision)
Welterweight:
Bruno Carvalho (POR) bt Souhil Tahiri (ALG)
(TKO)
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Last 10 NBA champions
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The Bio
Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959
Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.
He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses
Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas
His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s
Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business
He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery
Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, John Oliver
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
Bharat
Director: Ali Abbas Zafar
Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Januzaj's club record
Manchester United 50 appearances, 5 goals
Borussia Dortmund (loan) 6 appearances, 0 goals
Sunderland (loan) 25 appearances, 0 goals
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
