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Charity and fun go hand in hand at Wafi City where the many Ramadan activities - including art and cartoons - are well under way.
The annual oasis pool attracts people of all ages who have the opportunity to light a fanoos lantern and then set it sailing on the oasis pool in the main atrium of the mall.
The fanoos lantern is a major symbol of Ramadan and shoppers are offered the chance to pay Dh10 - which will then be donated to charity - to light the lantern.
Wafi communications manager Sally Meech, said: "During Ramadan charity is everything. Here at Wafi we recognise the need to help others during the holy month by creating activities to raise money to support UAE orphans with the Red Crescent organisation.
Spiritual
"Wafi is working to support this charity campaign for a whole year and the donations received will go to this project. The mall will be busy with different activities throughout the month to support the Red Crescent and offer Wafi customers unforgettable moments in a spiritual atmosphere."
Youngsters have the best of both worlds, with a chance to take the time and effort to help those worse off than themselves mixed with lots of fun with the characters from the UAE's first cartoon series - Freej.
Danny Monkton, 8, had his picture taken with Um Saeed, Um Saloom, Um Allawi and Um Khammas from the popular cartoon, which is currently enjoying the launch of a second season.
He said: "The characters are so much fun and they look just like they look on the television. I don't speak Arabic but now the cartoon has English words on the screen so we can all understand it. I like to watch it because it helps me understand Dubai and my Arab friends.
"I also enjoyed lighting a lantern because it is good to help children who don't have a mummy and daddy like I do. It makes me very sad."
Images for sale
Meech added: "Freej, the most popular 3D animation cartoon series in the Middle East, has also joined us this Ramadan to share joy and happiness amongst children and adults."
The mall boasts a special seating area with life-size Freej characters where customers can have their photographs taken, and two plasma screens for children to sit and watch the series. Freej merchandise is also available along with the DVDs and a percentage of the total sales will go to charity.
Wafi is also selling a range of images by Tim Flach. Flach, a famous photographer, has provided Wafi with unique prints of traditional Emirati images: stallions, camels and falcons, which provide a true image of the local culture. All profits from the total sales will go to the Red Crescent.
Mahmood, an artist himself, was buying two images for his home. He said: "These images are wonderful but they are worth even more now I know that money for them will go to help children in terrible situations around the world."
Your name in calligraphy
While at Wafi City, you can also have your name written in beautiful Arabic calligraphy to keep as a memento from Ramadan 2007.
The calligrapher is available from 9pm daily and appeals to both children and adults, visitors and residents.
Natasha Denning, 35, was on holiday in Dubai with her husband Mike and two children, Patrick, 10, and Kirsty, 13.
She said: "We came to the mall to see the shops and have been entertained from the moment we arrived. The calligraphy is lovely and we have had a family name piece done in Arabic which I plan to frame when we get home. It's lovely."
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