(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) This years night market has nearly 350 stalls and visitors have a chance to win international trips cars and several other daily prizes.
The Ramadan Night Market opened on Thursday at the Dubai World Trade Centre to a huge crowd that comprised both locals and expats and companies that showcased nearly every product under the sun.
The event which will continue till July 27 is open to visitors from 8pm till 2am.
“This is the first time I am attending the market” said Mary a visitor from Uzbekistan who is in Dubai on vacation.
All that glitters ... at the Ramadan Night Market at the Dubai World Trade Centre on Thursday. — KT photo by Juidin Bernarrd
“I have seen night markets in Bangkok but they are on the street. This is so organised” she spoke in awe of the elaborate arrangements.
Funny highlights
> The counterof a company selling whey protein and other body-building food was manned by a very lean man. Not a good first impression.
> A slimmingcentre stall was right next to a fast-food outlet. That’s business cannibalism!
> A womanat a stall selling hand-held massagers remained seated even while a customer enquired about her product. When asked for a demo she promptly asked her colleague to stand up and complained that her leg was hurting. Hurting with so many massagers around
> If you aremanaging a juice stall that reads “Healthy fruit juice – no added sugar” please hide yourself while having an ice-cream.
> If your handmadesoap looks like a cookie or a bar of chocolate please make sure you have a sign that says “soap” clearly. You can’t have curious people sniffing and grinning at your stall.
As is the case with such events the food and gadget stalls saw the most footfalls with people gathering much before the event officially opened.
“I have already turned down three customers. I cannot serve them before 8pm” said Govind a manager at an Indian food stall.
“They queue up even while I am setting up the stall. I am sure they will keep coming even after the ‘closed’ sign is put up” he added. The stall in question serves savory Indian snacks such as gol gappe bhel puri and paani puri so neither Govind nor the customers can really be blamed.
“We even keep the pamphlets hidden” said Allan a manager at a stall showcasing cameras and other electronic and electrical products of a Japanese company. “I run out of them in 10 minutes.”
This year’s night market has nearly 350 stalls and visitors have a chance to win international trips cars and several other daily prizes. Free entry and parking have only acted as a catalyst to boost footfall.
Visitors will also be able to bid for mobile phones and tablet devices starting from Dh1.
“We have come a long way since our inaugural edition in 2012. We are bigger better and a more exciting marketplace with matchless family-bonding opportunities. We aim to provide visitors a great ambience unique shopping experiences great deals and offers from participating retailers” Sunil Jaiswal CEO Sumansa Exhibitions organisers of the Ramadan Night Market told Khaleej Times.
While the market has a lot to offer traditionally in terms of food and clothing exhibitors have done well to adopt the latest the modern world has to offer.
Juice and ice-cream stalls showcased their menu on iPads a couple of stalls accepted customer registration via WhatsApp messages while a Taiwanese company asked customers to like its Facebook page on the spot to avail discounts. But if there was an award for the most engaging exploitation of man’s love for gadgets it would be Chinese car company Chery. All a visitor has to do was click a selfie with the car and post it on Facebook. The picture with the maximum likes wins the car.
The most gripping sight of the day however came from the most unexpected place. It was a Chinese couple munching gol gappas at Bikanerwala.— anupamkhaleejtimes.com
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