Residents and visitors are gearing up to make the most of the final weekend of this year’s Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS), with numerous options awaiting them in terms of shopping, entertainment and pure family fun, as part of the ‘Own The Summer’ experience.
With the 19thedition of DSS due to conclude on 20 August, shoppers are making a beeline for participating malls and retail outlets across the city to grab the best bargains and benefit from various promotions, offering amazing prizes including luxury cars, exotic holidays and loads of shopping and gift vouchers. The 43-day summer extravaganza features over AED 15 million worth of prizes offered in retail promotions, as well as hefty discounts of up to 75 % on an array of merchandise.
Joining the last-minute flurry of shopping are many residents who have just returned to Dubai after their summer vacation overseas and parents scouting for school-related merchandise with the start of the back-to-school season.
Commenting on the DSS offerings, Dubai-based expatriate, Shahzad Rana, from Pakistan, said: “Dubai is an amazing city and renowned for its vast and innovative entertainment options and attractive promotions. This combination makes us want to enjoy the entertainment and shopping experience again and again.
“I personally admire the variety of tempting footwear products on sale during DSS. There is no doubt that prices are extremely affordable and I will definitely take advantage during these last few days of the summer festival to buy clothes and even a phone and laptop”, he added.
Amina Ahmed, an Egyptian tourist, said that she was spending her time looking for special gifts in the UAE to take back with her as gifts. “The atmosphere is abuzz with shoppers visiting high-end stores and I will make sure to visit most of them before the end of Dubai Summer Surprises, as this is a rare opportunity for us to get the best items at reduced prices”.
Mohammed Qasim, a tourist from Pakistan, said: “I arrived a short time ago and I have spent most of my time wandering around the shops for the latest models in sports clothes and high-end shoes – the choice is great and of high quality. The summer festival has a wonderful reputation and offers a rare experience of shopping and entertainment unlike any other. I intend to buy perfume, shirts, trousers and food products well before the end of this great DSS event”.
Bargains and prizes galore
The ‘Shop & Win’ promotion run in collaboration with the Dubai Shopping Malls Group (DSMG), offers visitors the opportunity to win two more Infiniti Q50 cars this week on spending a minimum AED 200 at participating malls. A total of 12 Infiniti Q50 cars have been offered as prizes during DSS in association with the Arabian Automobiles Company (AAC), flagship company of AW Rostamani Group, and the exclusive dealer for Infiniti in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
Starting from today (18 August), shoppers spending a minimum AED 200 on school-related purchases are entitled to a raffle coupon that will be entered into a draw, offering the chance to win a full year’s scholarship for their child up to a maximum value of AED 50,000 in the ‘Shop & Win Scholarships’ promotion, also run jointly with DSMG
You can also ‘Multiply Your Summer Fun’ at The Dubai Mall with exclusive deals and money-saving summer passes for some of Dubai’s most exciting indoor entertainment venues located at the mall.
In the ‘Go Where You’ve Always Wanted’ promotion at City Centre Deira & City Centre Mirdif, win daily airline tickets to any destination for a minimum spend of AED300 while at Mall of the Emirates shop for AED 450 and get a chance to win a mystery vacation worth AED 150,000.
Take the plunge for supersized fun at the Giant Ball Pit activation at The Dubai Mall. Shoppers who spend AED 100 at any children’s outlet will get a free session in The Giant Ball Pit and a toy.
At Dragon Mart 2, spend AED 200 and get a Scratch & Win card with prizes while there will be a weekly draw offering one shopper the chance to win AED 10,000 worth of shopping vouchers.
Visitors to THE BEACH can avail themselves of special offers and discounts on a variety of entertainment activities and at food outlets, while at Ibn Battuta Mall, for every minimum spend of AED 300, five lucky shoppers each get the chance to win vouchers worth AED 10,000 every week.
At Mercato and Town Centre Jumeirah, for every AED 200 spent at any retail outlet, customers will be entitled to receive one coupon that will be entered into the raffle draw to win one of the following prizes – Cadillac Escalade Car, a 7-night family trip of 4 to Mauritius or Jewellery Prize worth AED 25,000.
DSS shoppers can also enjoy interactive summer activities indoors at Dubai Festival City Mall and also shop for AED 250 and enter a draw to win a Jeep Wrangler.
You can also shop at Paris Gallery stores for the best offers this summer on a premium collection of over 650 international brands and get instant gifts.
Visitors can also pack more into their trip with exclusive offers around the city from My Emirates Pass. Dine, relax and play for less with special rates at restaurants, spas, golf clubs and more – in Dubai and beyond.
Enjoy amazing online Dubai Duty Free shopping experiences by shopping at online.dubaidutyfree.com for over 3,000 world-class products and enjoy 5% off.
Meanwhile, get free fuel worth AED 100 when you purchase your VIP tag for AED 250 from any EPPCO/ENOC service station.
DSS shoppers can continue to enjoy enriching experiences in the final weekend as various malls stage world-class entertainment shows and activities including the Mercato Circus Fiesta, The Giant Ball Pit at The Dubai Mall, Jungle Book activation at CITY WALK, Bricks at BOXPARK, the Miss Fortune Circus at Ibn Battuta Mall and the ‘Barbie You Can Be An Athlete’ at Dragon Mart 2.
DSS 2016 is organised by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism).