Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism has unveiled an expanded promotional roadmap for 2026-27, anchored by a new 10-day Electronics Festival launching in April 2027, as the emirate deepens its push to dominate global retail and tourism rankings.
The announcement came during the "Dubai Promotions Impact" forum, hosted Monday by the Retail, Hospitality & Tourism Focus Group of IBPC Dubai. The event brought together DET officials, NielsenIQ analysts and retail leaders to examine consumer trends and Dubai's strategy for sustaining growth in one of the world's fastest-expanding markets.
The Electronics Festival responds directly to industry calls for a dedicated platform akin to GITEX Shopper. Mohammed Feras Arayqat, DET's Acting Vice President for Retail Calendar and Promotions, said successful festivals drive footfall across restaurants, malls, hotels and attractions, an integrated approach he described as central to Dubai Calendar. Over the past decade, the city's events calendar has grown from 12 to more than 80 annual initiatives, including the 29th edition of Dubai Summer Surprises.
Arayqat also revealed DET is developing a retailer insights dashboard with payment networks and partners, aimed at giving businesses deeper visibility into spending patterns and market performance. He characterised artificial intelligence as a complementary tool rather than a replacement for business strategy.
NielsenIQ representatives highlighted UAE retail resilience, noting FMCG growth of 7.3 percent and online retail expansion of 23 percent, far outpacing offline growth of 2.4 percent. Analysts urged retailers to move toward targeted, value-led promotions rather than broad discounting.
IBPC Dubai Secretary-General Dr. Sahitya Chaturvedi closed the forum by highlighting Dubai's AED228 billion retail economy and announcing the inaugural IBPC Retail Festival, set for October 1, 2026, to further align government and industry efforts across the sector.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
