Exploring Dubai during the summer gives visitors endless days of fun and enjoyment. In June 2011 the Dubai Summer Suprises (DSS) event takes place for the 14th year running. This shopping fiesta and summer entertainment event will be held from the 22nd June to the 31st July. The event was started by the Dubai government to promote Dubai as a family holiday destination and has grown in popularity ever since its launch in 1998, attracting millions of visitors from all over the world.

Since 1998 visitors to Dubai have enjoyed the Dubai Summer Suprises including not only the beautiful golden sun drenched beaches, but also experiencing shopping , entertainment and the region’s biggest indoor edutainment venue, Modhesh World.

What is Dubai Summer Suprises?

The DSS event see’s the region’s best shopping deals, competions with millions of dirhams as prizes, top-class family entertainment and the Middle East’s best spas just waiting to spoil and pamper visitors.
About 50 luxury malls offer top shopping promotions while hosting shows, concerts and exhibitions. Shoppers are rewarded for shopping with chances to win prizes and gifts throughout the DSS.
The many spas offer reduced rates for a variety of health and wellness treatments including body scrubs, rasul mud baths, Moroccan baths, ayurveda treatments, Swedish and Thai massage, detoxifying treatments, reflexology sessions and numerous other therapies.
The mascot of the DSS is called Modhesh, this is an Arabic word meaning amazing, incredible and unexpected. Modesh World, located at Dubai International Airport Expo, is spread across 37,000 square meters and is one of the largest indoor edutainment venues in the region. Originally starting as an indoor entertainment venue for children in 2000, Modesh World has now grown to become a complete edutainment venue for the whole family. There are 45 enthralling zones, each zone with its own concept and theme, an amazing collection of unique games, a funfair and also stage shows including Powerpuff Girls, Ben 10, Hello Kitty and many more, too many to mention!
During the DSS there will also be a few fashion shows to show off the new fashion trends in Dubai.

The Dubai Summer Suprises gives Dubai a chance to share its culture, history and traditions to visitors who often book last minute holidays to the amazing Dubai and its surrounding Emirates.

Visitors can always be assured of a warm and friendly welcome and with many cheap holidays available to Dubai during the summer you will not be disappointed.

The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), also known as ‘Layali Dubai’ in Arabic, is an annual international shopping event.  Originally conceived in 1996, the event now attracts more than 3 million people and is today one of the most important shopping events in the yearly calendar. 

Dubai Shopping Festival – Discounted Shopping and Bargains
Many tourists plan bargain holidays to Dubai during the DSF to make the most of the discounted shopping and offers that are available during this event.  A shopaholic’s dream, a variety of goods can be purchased at tax free prices including jewellery, watches and perfumes.  Daily draws also take place amounting to millions of Dirhams being given out as gifts!

For real atmosphere, visit o0ne of th emany souks, located on Dubai Creek to soak up the shopping atmosphere and experience the buzz.  Visit the Gold Souk, Spice Souk or Fish Souk and be amazed at the products on offer and the spectacles to be seen.

Events and Entertainment during DSF
On top of the vast selection of promotions, discounts and bargains that the Dubai Shopping Festival offers, there are daily events such as street performances, music shows, film festivals and fireworks.  There are also different shows based on selected themes such as Tarzan and Fashion week plus many sports to get involved in including football, tennis, rowing plus many more.

DSF 2011 – 15 years of the Dubai Shopping Festival
In 2011 the event ran for 32 days from the 20th January to the 20th February.  The event opened with an amazing show at the Burj Khalifa Boulevard and Dubai Creek Park with fireworks.  Disney also performed an exclusive production here in 2011 plus there were many raffles, concerts and shows such as the Dolphin show, concerts from Amy Winehouse, N.E.R.D and many more artists.

During the fifteen years that Dubai Shopping Festival has been running, there have been over 40 million visitors to the event, consumers have spent  Dh84 billion and prizes have been given away to the value of Dh1.35 billion.

Dubai Shopping Festival 2012 Dates
In 2012 the Festival will commence in the 3rd week of January and will last for a month.  Package holidays for the event next year will be advertised soon with many offers on accommodation and flights available during this time.

A souk is a market place where all types of goods are sold or exchanged. Originally the souks were located near the docks and were used as trading places for goods brought into the country on ships from India, Ceylon, China and the Far East. In the past the goods being bargained over were items such as spices, perfumes and silk, nowdays you can buy anything from gold to designer goods to electronic goods.

The Gold Souk

With more than 300 Gold Souks in Dubai, this is the place to shop as it is considered to be the cheapest place in the world to buy gold as there is no tax on gold and the import duties are very low. There is a huge variety of gold sold here, including such items as rings, bracelets, earrings, chains, necklaces, pendants and hair accessories. You will find both modern and traditional designs made from different coloured gold including yellow, white, pink and even green shades.

The Spice Souk

Here you will be amazed by the aroma of all the spices on offer. The spices here are imported from the Middle East and sold straight from the sacks that they arrive in. Goods on sale include saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, dried fruit and nuts to name just a few.

The Fish Souk

Open in the early morning and late at night, this is a fascinating souk to visit. Here you will find a huge array of different fish including lobster, crab, prawns, squid, shark, red snapper, sea bream, rock cod, king fish, barracuda, tuna, mackerel and sardines all of which are landed by the local fishermen.

The Perfume Souk

Here you will smell the aromas of thousands of different perfumes, from the traditional ittars (Arabian perfume) to all the latest designer perfumes. If you can’t find a fragrance you like the shopkeepers here will mix a potion to your taste. The traditional perfumes here differ from western perfumes as they have a very strong spicy smell.

There is much more to see and do in Dubai but for those who like to shop a visit to a souk is a must when on your direct holidays to this wonderful country.

Why not look on the internet for one of the many last minute holiday deals to Dubai which are on currently on offer.

Dubai is known as a ‘shoppers paradise’. Most of the worlds designer labels are available in the city’s swanky malls.

Modesh,mascot of Dubai Summer Suprises

During February the Dubai Shopping Festival takes place and the Dubai Summer Suprises runs throughout the summer. Top international brands are usually offered at rock bottom prices during these festivals.
Dubai’s souks, traditional shopping centres, are excellent for bargain hunting, especially in Deira. The curio shops of Karama and Satwa are also great places for bargains.

Al Karama

Karama’s two central streets are lined with lots of small shops. Here you buy anything, including clothes, designer fashion accessories and watches. There are also lots of souvenir shops here selling a range of goods from Indian inlaid rosewood boxes to Omani silver jewellery.
Karama also has fish and vegetable markets and it has one street that sells just furniture.

Al Satwa

Al Satwa

Full of shops and pavement cafes, the broad palm-lined main street, Al Diyafah, is perfect for a spot of shopping and then relaxing in one of the many restaurants and cafes.
At the west end of Al Diyafah street (near the sea) is the historic Dar Al Ittehad (Union House) building where the treaty creating the UAE was signed in 1971.
At the other end of the street, near the Rydges Plaza Hotel, is the busy Al Satwa Road where there are lots of small shops which sell textiles, clothes and household goods.
Satwa has many tailoring shops where any item of clothing can be designed and made in a week.
Between Al Satwa Road and Al Wasl Road there is a street Known as ‘Plant Street’ where you can buy plants and flowers of all colours, size and shape. The street is also home to lots of pet shops, selling exotic animals, birds and fish and art shops selling original paintings and prints.

Al Faheidi

Bur Dubai

Bur Dubai is full of colourful shopping districts.
In the narrow streets of the Al Faheidi area you will find electrical goods, including all the latest gadgets and IT equipment.
Cosmos Lane (Meena Bazaar) is lined with fabric shops selling silks, cottons and woollens.

Jurmeirah

Jurmeirah was once a fishing village but is now a popular summer holidays tourist destination. Jurmeirah Beach Road has many restaurants, cafes, beauty salons and flower shops.

The Old Town

Situated along the Burj Dubai Boulevard at Downtown Burj Dubai, the Old Town is a network of passageways and landscaped courtyards.
The Old Town has an air of informality, with the pathways lined with souks, stalls, restaurants and cafes.

Up Town Mirdiff

Up Town Mirdiff is a quaint pedestrian shopping centre with an assortment of high-street names, small shops, beauty salons, restaurants and cafes.

Global Village

Global Village

Global Village is situated within the theme park developement of Dubailand and is open annually between December and March. The village site offers a broad spectrum of activities, including shopping, music, dance, arts and crafts, theatre and dining.The international pavilions here attract craftsmen and tradesmen from around the world, enabling shoppers to buy products from all over the world.