Bahrain’s mega shopping fest opens on 1 January

Bahrain can expect to receive an influx of tourists over the next month as the kingdom’s largest shopping festival starts next week with a unique line-up of events.   

Starting from 1 January until 2 February, the fifth edition of Shop Bahrain is set to be the biggest nationwide festival, offering a fantastic shopping experience.

More than 32 hotels and 24 shopping malls across the kingdom are taking part in the mega event.

Speaking during press conference, Shaikh Khaled bin Humood Al Khalifa, Chief Executive of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, said: “We promise nothing but the best in the fifth edition of Shop Bahrain, the largest nationwide event which aims to further drive the growth of the tourism and retail sector by attracting residents and tourists from our Gulf neighbours.”

“The festival is planned to coincide with long holidays in Gulf countries to boost tourism spending,” he said.

The event will kick-start the country’s robust 2019 tourism calendar and will include different promotions and activities such as the ‘Festival City’ at the Bahrain International Circuit, which will host a number of activities and carnival games for all age groups as well as an outdoor market, live performances and music.

The loyalty system will also be reintroduced where shoppers can earn points every time they spend at participating hotels and shopping malls to be able to enrol in raffle draws.

“For every BD10 ($26.3) spent, shoppers will be eligible to enter a raffle draw and win more than 73,000 prizes including 11 cars, electronics from A.A. Bin Hindi Group, 6,000 airline tickets at special rates from Gulf Air, thousands of instant prizes from Viva and much more,” Shaikh Khalid said.

He also said that the expected roll-out of Value Added Tax (VAT) from 1 January would not majorly impact consumer spending.

The total volume of transactions during the 2018 edition was BD19 million ($50 million), and more than 137,150 of local and regional shoppers registered in the online loyalty system to collect points.