Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) hopes that its combined UAE National Day and Eid Al Eftar celebrations will attract over 650,000 visitors to its heritage sites in Al Shindagha and Hatta later this month, repot said.
The campaign, which is being launched Sunday, aimed at pan-Emirates and pan-Arab visitors, is expected to generate a 15 to 20 percent increase over last year's figures, Khaleej Times reported.
Mohammed Khamis bin Hareb, the DTCM's Director of Operations and Marketing, was quoted by the Dubai-based paper as saying that "this year's celebrations are bigger than ever - with over 40 events and activities planned at all our heritage sites, including a camel race at Nadi Al Sheba Racetrack on December 17 which has a total prize money of Dh110,000 on offer."
According to the daily, a unique event being staged this year is the laser show, which will display images of President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. There will be a daily 15-minute pyrotechnic display, lighting up the skies above the Shindagha promenade from 8pm onwards.
The DTCM has targeted nationals and residents of the GCC countries for the combined celebrations, which begin from the first day of Eid and last till the weekend (Friday December 21). "Gulf countries more or less celebrate Eid on the same dates and we expect a large number of families to come to the UAE during that time," Bin Hareb noted. This year, the DTCM's National Day celebrations have been deferred to coincide with Eid festivities because of the holy month of Ramadan – Albawaba.com
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