Al Ghurair Centre in Deira, Dubai’s original shopping mall, has regenerated itself as an urban hub following a major expansion in the latter part of 2013.

Supporting and promoting art, music and culture, the last six months have seen a new business model fill the streets around the Al Ghurair Centre and increase footfall at the renovated, multi-use centre, said a statement.

Devising and hosting large-scale events that involve the community, such as The Battle of The Bands music competition, Street Con Urban Art Fest and Dub Fest International Street Theatre and Comedy Fair, it has attracted support from the local area and broadened the mall’s appeal to a wider audience further afield, bringing customers back to Deira, it said.

Dub Fest, which saw over 300 shows with more than 30 international artists from March 20 to 29, generated a visitor footfall of over 500,000. The event itself increased footfall by 50 per cent in comparison to the same period last year. The final weekend of the Al Ghurair Centre’s Dub Fest saw the highest visitor footfall since the mall’s expansion in October 2013.

Vice president of the Al Ghurair Centre, David Thurling, said: “The success of Al Ghurair Centre's inaugural Dub Fest has been beyond expectations.  The community fully embraced the 10-day event turning out in huge numbers, more than 300,000, to witness over 300 performances. We look forward to making future Dub Fest’s even bigger and believe it has the potential to become a landmark event on the Dubai events calendar."

With more interactive events planned throughout the year, Al Ghurair Centre is firmly re-establishing itself as a credible contender in the retail arena whilst giving something back to the community via free, family-friendly, and culturally derived events, he said. - TradeArabia News Service