Dubai Ensures Perfect Customer Service for the Tourism Industry

Much comes to mind while thinking of Dubai. Located within the United Arab Emirates, the city-state has transformed from a sleepy desert city into a business and cultural hub. The global city is home to a mere 2.2 million people out of which 90% are ex-patriots. While, the population size may seem modest for a cosmopolitan metropolis, Dubai is the most expensive city in the Middle East and the 22nd most expensive city in the world! It has attracted worldwide attention for its man-made islands, hotels and some of the world's largest shopping malls. In the last decade, Dubai has emerged as a hotspot for the ultimate customer experience. A majority of the Emirate's revenues are attributed to the flourishing tourism industry. As of 2010, the city was ranked as the 7th most visited city of the world with 7.6 million visitors. Travel experts predict 15 million tourists will visit the city by 2015. Dubbed as the -shopping capital of the Middle East-, the government conscientiously built more than 70 shopping malls throughout the Emirate. It is home to Dubai Mall, the world's largest shopping mall. With over 1200 stores, it draws foreigners from as far as Eastern Europe, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent. Consumers are able to find a great range of items from domestic and international brands. While, some outlets operate on a fixed-price basis, a majority of stores are open to negotiations. The Dubai Shopping Festival is one of the biggest tourist attractions the city has to offer. It plays a vital role in the tourism industry, attracting nearly 3 million people every year. It is a month long festival that is usually scheduled during January. In 2009, 3.35 million visitors spent 9.8 billion dirham while shopping at malls in Dubai and on entertainment extravaganza. Although, it features folk dances, art exhibitions and magic shows, DSF is widely known for its deep discounts on merchandise, fireworks show, and daily car raffles. The government takes pride in DSF as it enhances customer experience by granting foreigners an opportunity to exhibit aspects of their culture. Despite the glitz and glamor in the shopping centers, the city-state is also known by the moniker -sporting capital- of the Middle East. With an aim to promote customer service, the government hosts a number of sporting events that appeal to the taste of nationals and tourists alike. Visitors can enjoy their holiday by engaging in activities such as ice-skating, sand skiing, falconry and deep-see fishing. They can also spend time playing golf, cricket, and tennis and power boat racing. The government organizes traditional sports such as camel racing and horse racing as well as international championships including Dubai World Cup and Dubai Snooker Classic.