Bahrain: A Nationwide shopping festival began last night with a special performance by an internationally-acclaimed artist in Seef.
Moroccan singer Asma Lmnawar’s performance at Seef Mall marked the beginning of a series of events lined up for the 30-day ‘Shop Bahrain’ event, which is returning for its second year under a new name.
The festival – known as Bahrain Noor El Ain in its first incarnation – aims to stimulate the national economy and attract tourists from neighbouring countries, with bargains and entertainment programmes in store. Shoppers are also set to benefit from special bargains and sales, with around 2,000 retailers across 14 malls.
A ‘Loyalty System’ is in place this year for shoppers to collect points from shops, each of which will have a different category – gold, silver and bronze – with different prizes and raffles for each.
Raffles
Weekly raffles will also be held throughout January, granting instant scratch-and-win vouchers for every BD50 spent during the festival.
“The festival aims to strengthen the partnership between the public and private entities in order to stimulate the national economy and drive the growth of the retail and tourism sector,” said Shop Bahrain project director Nawaf Al Kooheji.
“Other than retailers, the influx of tourists flying into the country and using facilities such as hotels, restaurants and transportation will also benefit the economy at large.
“More than 2,000 retail outlets took part in the first edition, generating BD18 million worth of shopping during the six-week festival along with the creation of 300 temporary jobs and economic growth of 16 per cent in regards to tourists.
“This year, we hope to exceed this and achieve much more in terms of creating direct and indirect revenue for Bahrain.”
The event will also feature the largest outdoor ice-skating rink in the GCC, dubbed Viva Shop and Skate, which will be open next to Al A’ali Shopping Complex from 4pm to 10pm on weekdays and from 4pm until midnight on Friday and Saturday throughout the festival period.
This venue will also feature a market displaying products such as clothes, jewellery, furniture, food outlets and much more, with other attractions during weekends.
Al Riwaq Art Space’s The Nest, which takes place across Block 338 in Adliya every Thursday from 5pm to 10pm, every Friday from 3pm to 10pm and every Saturday from noon to 8pm, will also continue to run until January 9 as part of the festival.
It features outdoor installations, art pieces and food stalls as well as workshops, film screenings and concerts, with almost 20 Bahraini and international artists, 19 designers, food vendors and other local talents including musicians from Bahrain and the region taking part.
Meanwhile, visitors can savour the best dishes that the area has to offer with the Adliya ‘Taste Tour’, featuring a number of restaurants including Beijing, Mino’s, Passion, The Hot Spot and The Houseboat.
Anyone who tries dishes from all 13 participating restaurants over the festival period and gets the corresponding stamps in their festival handbook will be eligible to enter a raffle draw for a chance to win a business class ticket from Gulf Air to any destination worldwide.
A two-day ‘Family Fair’ will also be held next Thursday and Friday at Prince Khalifa bin Salman Park in Hidd to mark New Year’s Eve.
It will feature a concert by famous Bahraini singer Hind, as well as games, entertainment programmes and food.
Elsewhere, a number of in-mall activities will be held across participating shopping malls including children’s cinema, art workshops, reverse bungee jumps, rock climbing and much more.
The festival culminates on
January 23.
For more information, visit www.shopbahrain.com or follow the festival on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @shopbahrain.
shahlaa@gdn.com.bh
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