Ramadan Fair 2016 got under way on Thursday night, August 27, in Sharjah, kick-starting a 26-day-long shopping and entertainment festival at Expo Centre Sharjah until September 21.
The show was opened by Mr Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).
Present at the opening ceremony were Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Director-General of Expo Centre Sharjah, Mr Fasahat Ali Khan, Adviser to the Chairman and Board of Directors of Expo Centre Sharjah, and officials of various government departments.
After the opening ceremony, Mr Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa went around the stalls and was briefed on participating outlets and entertainment activities planned for the show.
‘The Ramadan Fair is an important part of the Sharjah Ramadan Festival and plays a key role in contributing to the overall economy of Sharjah and the UAE. The event sees high turnout of visitors and good sales since over the years it has acquired the stature of an established shopping venue for observing Ramadan and celebrating Eid Al Fitr,’ said Mr Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa.
With the per capita spending in the country remaining the highest in the Arab World, ‘the Ramadan Fair becomes a unique shopping platform that will help residents buy all their requirements needed to mark the occasion in grand style with their family and friends,’ said Mr Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa.
Recent figures released by the UAE Ministry of Economy showed that private consumption, excluding property, grew by about 16.6% to Dhs525.2bn in 2015, despite the difficult economic conditions. Generally, consumer spending sees a surge during Ramadan as residents observe the Holy Month along with their friends and families and prepare in earnest to celebrate the festival that marks the end of the month of fasting.
In addition, for the first time, a furniture and furnishing show – Homes Middle East – will be held alongside the Ramadan Fair from September 3 to 12 at the same venue.
‘It will be a double delight for visitors. While the Ramadan Fair is well known as a one-stop shop for a full range of products to celebrate Eid, Homes Middle East will be a comprehensive showcase of furniture and furnishings,’ said Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa.
‘The Ramadan Fair has a track record of attracting more than 100,000 visitors every year. This popularity will be a huge advantage to Homes Middle East in that it automatically gets access to a captive audience [from the Ramadan Fair],’ said Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa.
The Ramadan Fair is featuring more than 150 companies along with a full schedule of leisure activities throughout its 26-day run. It is billed as a complete shopping and entertainment event for the whole family.
Mr Fasahat Ali Khan, Advisor to the Chairman and Board of Directors of Expo Centre Sharjah, said:
‘In view of the current economic situation, Expo Centre Sharjah has kept the participation cost very low for retailers. This will give them an unparalleled opportunity to cater to a large number of consumers at a minimum expenditure.’
‘Moreover, the economic support from the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the marketing support from the Ramadan Festival Committee will go a long way in helping this event achieve great success… for both retailers and visitors,’ added Mr Khan.
Major participating UAE companies at the Ramadan Fair include Al Futtaim Watches and Jewellery, Rivoli Gifts, Juma Al Majid, Silica, Emirates Modern Poultry Al Rawdha, Al Rawabi, Ditra, Taher & Sons and Junaid Perfumes, among others.
Besides, several companies from India, Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Qatar and Lebanon are also participating.
The Ramadan Fair will focus on consumer goods such as household products, furniture and furnishing, home appliances and electronics, food products, fashion garments, footwear, gifts and novelties, gold, diamond and fashion jewellery, and automobiles, among others. There will be special emphasis on digital cameras, watches, mobile phones and computers & accessories.
A Heritage Village will be set up at the show. It will provide visitors glimpses into the past through a display of pottery, and a photo gallery of early Arabian lifestyle that will focus on falconry, pearl diving and fishing methods of yore.
The Sharjah Health Zone will provide free health check-ups for blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure and body mass index. There will also be counters of the smoking cessation unit and the infectious diseases awareness unit.
The show will also feature a workshop for children, which will be organised by Sharjah Museum Department, and entertainment activities organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Other activities include face painting, balloon twisting, game organising, presence of special characters, jugglers, stilt walkers and sky dancers. These activities will be held three days a week — Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
A special attraction at the show will be astounding acrobatic and magic shows and a fire act twice a day presented by especially flown-in European performers on the last four days of the Ramadan Fair — on September 18, 19, 20 and 21.
Meanwhile, Homes Middle East will be a one-stop shop for all the furniture and furnishing needs of families, home owners, individuals, restaurant and hotels owners, institutions, corporates, interior decorators and designers.
It will feature bedroom furniture, lounge furniture, dining furniture, entertainment furniture, home & office furniture, outdoor furniture, garden & cane furniture, furnishings & fabrics, curtains and rods, fittings & accessories, lighting & lamps, rugs, carpet floor & wall coverings, paints, mattress & base, artwork & framing, mirror and frames, kitchen cabinets and equipment, objets d’art and accessories.
There will be an auction facility and a special presentation zone that will offer a unique buying and viewing opportunity to visitors.
For both the shows, visitors can also look forward to free admission, free parking, prizes, raffle draws and other entertainment opportunities.
The Ramadan Fair will be open from 8pm to 12.30am, and during Eid holidays from 4.30pm to 10.30pm. Homes Middle East will be open from 8pm to 12.30am.
Both the shows are organised by Expo Centre Sharjah in association with the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Source : http://www.ameinfo.com
