(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM)) The main attraction of the Dubai Shopping Festifval, DSF, the 20th edition of the Carpet and Art Oasis, was inaugurated yesterday at the Dubai Festival City, displaying exquisite and rare carpets, handcrafted in renowned rug making regions.
Held under the patronage of Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of DP World and Chairman of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director of Dubai Customs, opened the show in the presence of Laila Mohammed Suhail, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, DFRE.
Themed as "20 Years of Spinning Art", the show will run until 1st of February and is hosting for the first time a gallery for handmade carpets, featuring some 44 of the most famous rare fine rugs in the world.
"Dubai Customs keenly organises the Carpet and Art Oasis every year, as one of DSF's core activities. The exhibition enjoys the full and unlimited support of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which forms an incentive for the Carpet Oasis' Organising Committee to pay utmost attention to the quality and variety of exhibits," said Sultan bin Sulayem.
Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director of Dubai Customs, noted that the Oasis had met with resounding success, with the number of visitors flocking to the Oasis reaching over one million, and total sales value of more than Dh1.7 billion.
"More than two and a half million carpets have been exhibited thus far," he said, adding, "This edition of the Oasis features 58 stands with 42 companies displaying 220,000 carpets valued at AED2 billion. A total of 300 exquisite carpets were weaved to be displayed exclusively and for the first time at the Carpet and Art Oasis 2015." Ahmed Mahboob noted that this year's Oasis is being held over an area of 6,200 square metres, and a 120-meter long and 12-meter tall panoramic facade was added to mark the 20th anniversary of the Oasis. The facade features new and old attractions of Dubai, namely Burj Khalifa, Dubai Metro, Burj Al Arab, Emirates Towers, Atlantis The Palm, and Dubai Golf Club, among others.
The Carpet Oasis' Organising Committee has completed the Naseej Al Walaa, or "Loyalty Weave", Portrait, an initiative launched by Dubai Customs to create a handmade wall-hanging portrait of Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The initiative was held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The exquisite piece of art features numerous stitches and rich colours. It has over one million knots and over 120 natural colours spread over an area of nearly 2 square meters. Made of 50% pure silk and 50% natural wool, the weaving was accomplished within three years with the help of 2,000 people. During the Carpet and Art Oasis 2015, the portrait and a book titled "Naseej Al Walaa" will be handed over to H.H. Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum.
On the sidelines of the Oasis, Dubai Customs is holding a "Thank You, Guardians of the Nation" exhibition, in line with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's directives to dedicate the celebrations of his Accession Day to the UAE Armed Forces.
The inauguration of the 20th edition of Carpet and Art Oasis saw the display of "Al Mahmal Al Shami" (a ceremonial palanquin carried on a camel which was the centre piece of the pilgrim caravan to Mecca). The Mahmal, decorated by its accessories, has the stamp of Sultan Abdul Hamid Khan and dates back to 1311 Hijri.
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