Munich Hits Back At Rival 'Oktoberfest' Event In Dubai

The organisers of Oktoberfest in Munich have criticised plans to create a rival event in Dubai - and have promised they won't be moving.

The world's biggest beer festival has been scrapped for the second year in a row due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but it seems some people have been keen on taking the event to the UAE.

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Squashing any possibility of such a thing taking place, organisers have shared an official statement which claims 'Munich Oktoberfest will not take place in Dubai'.

It reads: "Recently, media in German-speaking countries have been reporting intensively on plans by a private individual to hold an Oktoberfest in Dubai.

"Various headlines linguistically suggest that the Munich Oktoberfest is actually being relocated to Dubai, is moving there, or is taking place in the desert this year due to a possible cancellation.

"In this regard, the Department of Labour and Economic Affairs of the City of Munich, as the organiser of the Munich Oktoberfest, states: 'The Oktoberfest is a Munich original and takes place exclusively in Munich.

"'The plans that have now become known are not being pursued by the organisers of the event in Dubai either on behalf of or with the consent of the City of Munich.'"

PA

According to CNN, 'Oktoberfest in Dubai' is promoted by Charles Blume, who helps organise the Berlin Christmas market. It's believed that the event will run at the Dubai Marina from October 2021 to 2022.

The plan is to have the festival filled with beer tents, food stands, attractions and rides.

Then, of course, the plan involves a lot of people - a huge 120,000 guests can reportedly fit into the location and there will be 'no restrictions to traditional Bavarian dress, beer, music or sale and consumption of foods of any kind'.

According to German newspaper Bild, those responsible in the Emirate of Dubai have given the green light for the world's largest folk festival.

The publication goes on to report that it will begin on 7 October and go on for six months, from 12 noon to midnight, with an estimated cost of around €50 million (£43.26m/$60m).

There is also speculation that the event could see the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Pamela Anderson and Steven Seagal all being flown in as guests.

Topics: News, Dubai, Germany, Weird

Rebecca Shepherd

I'm Becky - a journalist at LADbible. I graduated with a First Class BA in Journalism before going on to cover criminal court cases, medical tribunals and breaking news for the national media - which inevitably and eventually became as glum as it sounds. Can often be found rocking a bag for life - which I made a 'thing' way before Rihanna. You can contact me at [email protected]

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