We bring you the lowdown on how to plan a full, fun-packed weekend.
In Dubai, people spell F-U-N as D-S-F. Every year, the Dubai Shopping Festival stages activities for the whole family, inspired by the theme One World, One Family, One Festival.
If you are a tourist, we can show you how to cover the major attractions of this shopping-cum-entertainment mega event, in three days. Go around armed with your camera. You'll not be disappointed — there will be plenty of sound and colour footage to show to the folks back home.
Day 1
Shopping and fun
What better way to enjoy a shopping festival than by visiting a mall? Many of the 466 stores in the Mall of the Emirates are offering discounts of around 60 per cent, with the mall itself giving away incredible prizes and raffles worth above Dh2 million. A cultural celebration at the mall has some outstanding troupes participating from Africa, Asia, Europe and America.
You can tie it up with a visit to its neighbour Ibn Battuta, which is letting four lucky visitors walk away with a new Mini Cooper.
Shopaholics spending Dh200 in Al Ghurair City get the opportunity to win a BMW X5 and a trip to an African safari destination of their choice. You can enter photographs of your most memorable holiday experience in a competition and win a holiday to the same destination.
House of Talents has women showcasing their skills in handicrafts, music, jewellery design, photography, perfume making, poetry, make-up and hair styling. Or fashion lovers may head to Creations — a platform for upcoming local and regional fashion designers.
You can go to a carnival on your first evening in Dubai. Dubai Carnivals are featuring four platforms, each with a different theme. Performers include Tanourah dancers, African artists, Indian folk groups, stilt walkers, clowns, jugglers and a host of Turkish, Serbian, and Senegalese entertainers.
Day 2
A taste of culture
On your second day, you can do more shopping until the entertainment kicks in at the other DSF venues. Massive promotions are being offered by the 370 retail stores located at Deira City Centre. For each Dh300 spent, shoppers can enter the weekly raffles and win driving lessons offered by Dubai Autodrome. The big prize is an elegant sports car.
In the same side of the city, 80 per cent of BurJuman's stores are offering reductions on selected products. Shoppers spending Dh300 at any Jumbo store will receive a raffle coupon that will be entered into a daily draw.
If you are the kind that loves museums and culture, a visit to Shindagah must be chalked into your diary. It offers glimpses into Emirati life — traditional food, old living quarters, a life-size replica of a dhow, Bedouin artefacts and souvenirs. The Hatta Heritage Village is hosting a camel carnival every weekend and an exclusive pet farm.
Artists
Art enthusiasts can see generic, innovative and experimental art all in one go at Art Avenue on Al Seef Road. Also, the British Museum and Dubai Holding's exhibition, entitled Word into Art, is featuring work by 90 artists from the Middle East. During DSF, the public are also invited to capture their own experiences of the UAE and upload them onto www.watani.tv.
The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department has set up stalls at shopping malls to offer Islamic books and pamphlets to lure in prose lovers. Or you can grab a book at Magrudy's, Book Corner or the Book Centre. I mean, what the Dickens?
Head to a show in the evening. You may have already missed Karma and Amr Diab, but there are several left. The Krystal Dinner Show combines five-star cuisine and world-class entertainment. Weekend shows called Maya Moon, Light Vision and Phoenix Fire feature international performers, stunning stage set-ups and fully choreographed fireworks.
Day 3
Family day out
There are more malls to choose from on your third day of fun. Wafi promises the daily Golden Giveaway and a selection of other prizes — designer clothes, Caran d'Ache pens, Al Hadeel gowns and a Chanel handbag.
Lamcy Plaza next door is staging a mesmerising performance by a Russian troupe. Mercato Mall and Town Centre Jumeirah are celebrating a Toy Fantasia theme this year.
As you move around the city, catch the fireworks, lighting up the area above the Creek Park every evening. You can catch butterflies, constellations and animals coming alive in the sky.
Your last evening must be devoted to a visit to the Global Village — synonymous with DSF, it is the perfect venue for souvenir shopping, with pavilions representing various countries of the world.
It also gives you an opportunity to catch the daily raffle draws, so don't forget to buy your tickets. Mega raffle draws such as the daily Lexus Mega Raffle and the daily Grand Nissan Raffle are hugely popular.
Before you say goodbye...
You may still have time to head off to the Night Souq, while the rest of the family is getting some shut eye. Clothing, cosmetics, shoes, bags, perfumes... it has them all in hordes.
And before you rush to the airport, take a deviation and visit the Carpet Oasis. You can choose from over 100,000 exquisite hand-made carpets from Iran, Middle East, India and Turkey.
At the airport, there'll be plenty of time left to flex that plastic. The 2008 Gold Raffle is giving away one kilo of gold everyday to shoppers throughout DSF 2008. You can buy a piece of jewellery and may win a chunk of gold in return.
And save those raffle tickets. You may be one of the lucky ones flying back to Dubai soon to collect your prize. Otherwise we will expect you back during the next DSF.
More info
If you are lost, confused or simply need some information on DSF, contact Ahlan on 600 545555 (24 hours) for assistance or visit www.mydsf.ae
