DUBAI: 20th Carpet and Art Oasis exhibition, an event contributed by Dubai Customs as a part of Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) and scoring yet another record sales of more than AED 98 million.
Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director of Dubai Customs, said: “The Carpet and Art Oasis is an initiative Dubai Customs ardently looked after over the last two decades consecutively. Year after year, it became one of DSF’s iconic events which has helped in boosting retail industry and economic growth by attracting foreign investments from major handmade carpet makers around the world. The exhibition also shows how active we are as Customs in supporting local economy.”
Musabih lauded the fruitful synergy with Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), and the DSF part in stirring up tourism traffic into Dubai. “Our strategic partners have an indispensable role in bringing the oasis exhibition towards such success and distinction ever since its onset in 1996,” he added.
The Director of Dubai Customs affirmed that the annual oasis exhibition is a catalyst for the growth of carpet retail sector. “This year’s edition brought together 42 local and international exhibitors, showcasing their products through 58 pavilions. As many as 220,000 carpets in estimated net market value of AED 2 billion were on display, that makes double of the value of Dubai’s foreign trade in carpets during 2013, as well as the first nine months of 2014, amounting to AED 1 billion in each period. This reflects the prominent economic status occupied by the exhibition as it grabs the attention of visitors and residents alike, including dignitaries and celebrities from across the country and the region, owing to the sumptuous quality of the exhibited hand-crafted rugs,” he added.
Dubai Customs held the closing ceremony of the 20th Carpet and Art Oasis in Dubai Festival City. Abdullah Al Khaja, Executive Director of Customer Management Division at DC commemorated key strategic partners; namely, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), Oilfields Supply Center ltd., General Department of Organizations Protective Security and Emergency of Dubai Police, Directorate General of Civil Defence, Dubai Electricity & Water Authority, Dubai Municipality, DSF, Dubai Festival City and Heritage Carpet Corporation for their continuous presence accompanying the event for 20 years. Exhibitors and participants were also honoured in the presence of Khalil Saqer bin Gharib, Director of Corporate Communication and Abdul Rahman Issa Chairman of the Carpet Oasis’ Steering Committee from Dubai Customs.
Abdulrahman Issa stated on the ceremony: “This year’s sales turnover went above AED 98 million from over 3000 carpets sold. The estimated sales of the last 19 years came close to AED 1.7 billion. More than 2.5 million carpets were on display and over one million visitors flocked in to enjoy the beauty of spinning art.”
