The UAE’s retailers are expecting a big boost in sales over Eid Al Fitr, with some already reporting record figures as the holiday nears, while Eid sales and promotions are also contributing to an ebullient retail sector.

"In the last two days our sales have been up 400 per cent compared to the same period last year," said Hamdi Kulahcioglu, the general manager of Tryano, the department store in Yas Mall.

He said the sales bonanza began at the end of last week as the gifting period took hold in the capital.

"The time of year, before this Eid holiday, is often the most vibrant. There are many factors contributing to the uptick. The timing of Eid this year means many families are planning to leave for the summer break and buying before they travel, others are buying for the Eid holiday."

The 24-hour sale planned by Yas Mall for June 25 and 26 is also likely to be a traffic generator creating a rise in footfall and fuelling retailers’ optimism, he said.

The country’s retailers have faced a challenging year as the oil price has stubbornly hovered around US$50 per barrel. This has caused job layoffs across the energy, banking and finance sectors creating job insecurity in the wider employment arena, fuelling exacerbating consumer uncertainty.

The strong dollar, making the UAE an expensive destination for many of its key tourist markets, has also affected tourist’s spending patterns. While the past 12 months have proved chastening for retailers used to double-digit sales increases, Ramadan has proven to be a fruitful period for online and offline merchants.