DUBAI, Jan 15: The Dh78 million Dubai Shopping Festival, that will give away prizes worth more than Dh100 million over the next 31 days, was launched with fireworks, laser show and a spectacular opening ceremony featuring Arabian bedouin music and dances and performances from famous international artistes such as the legendary French music group, Deep Forest.

A 40-meter-long and 15-meter-wide make-shift stage was built on a huge barge at Dubai creek supported by a 30-meter special tower crane, a seven beam laser technology, 300 moving lights and 1500 computerized light units that were also used within the water.

The streets in Dubai, the scene of carnival-type festivities, have witnessed big traffic jams almost all evening as some main city arteries were shut for vehicles. All major hotels reported more than 80 per cent occupancy and a big rush of tourists, from all over the world, is expected for the entire duration of the festival.

The annual festival, started in 1996, has a mega Lexus raffle this year that will give two top-of-the-range Lexus cars and Dh200,000 cash every day, during the 32-day festival and Dh1 million cash prize every week.