Saleh Fareed

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — The third edition of Haya Jeddah shopping festival was officially launched by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) on Friday.



Representatives from the chamber, private organizations and festival sponsors as well as thousands of shoppers attended the colorful launch ceremony at Red Sea Mall.



Under the theme “Enjoy, Win and Shop”, Haya Jeddah will run until Feb. 8. The festival, which aims to stimulate tourism and retail trade in the city, hopes to attract over 1 million visitors from other regions of the Kingdom and the Gulf countries.



More than 500 retail stores and 30 malls will witness intensive activity during the month-long festival, according to JCCI Secretary-General Adnan Mandoura.



He said this year’s calendar of events features attractions in diverse fields from shopping to entertainment. Promotions and mega raffles are offering prizes worth SR2 million.



“We want to have more tourists in Jeddah for this event and visitors will have the chance to enjoy a fantastic shopping opportunity,” he said. "Shops and restaurants will offer special discounts."



Mandoura said the idea of launching the winter festival three years ago came after the great success of the Jeddah Summer Festival that kicked off 13 years ago.



Haya Jeddah 2014, the first event in the JCCI’s calendar, is organized in line with the strategic objectives to develop Jeddah as a touristic, economic and cultural destination with the support of the governorate and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA).