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DSS gets under way with Dolphin show on Thursday
Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS), the Gulf's largest summer tourism and retail extravaganza, kicks off on Thursday at the Dubai Dolphinarium in the Dubai Creek Park, officials informed the media on Sunday.
- By Nadia Saleem, Staff Reporter
- Published: 20:46 June 15, 2008
- A 40-minute opening show featuring performances by dolphins will kickstart the Dubai Summer Surprises at the dolphinarium at the Dubai Creek Park.
- Image Credit: Karl Jeffs/Gulf News
Dubai: Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS), the Gulf's largest summer tourism and retail extravaganza, kicks off on Thursday at the Dubai Dolphinarium in the Dubai Creek Park, officials informed the media on Sunday.
The event will begin with a 40-minute opening show featuring sound and light effects and performances by dolphins and sea lions.
The show will include a seven-minute three-dimensional programme during which the audience will feel it is in a deep sea environment.
The show, a combined vision of DSF Office and Dubai Municipality, will be orchestrated by French director Michael Touito.
Eight hundred invitees will be able to view the show that will also be broadcast live.
Ebrahim Saleh, general coordinator of DSF Office, said, "Our show has a message. Conceptualising on the Greener community direction adopted by the Government of Dubai, DSS aims to raise awareness of the importance of preserving the environment and marine life to make our planet a better place for future generations."
Environmental focus
He added that the show coincides with World Environment Day, celebrated a few days ago worldwide.
Ahmad Abdul Kareem, director of public parks and horticulture department, Dubai Municipality, said, "The Dubai Dolphinarium is one of Dubai Municipality's initiatives in its continuing efforts to highlight environment-related issues and the necessity for sustainable development."
He added that the facility is "just one of the series of quality entertainment projects scheduled to come up on the Dubai Creek Park.
"It is our endeavour to enhance and enrich the experience of visitors and residents in Dubai, not only through events, but by providing recreational and world-class public utility services that match the city's vibrant status."
Christopher Richardson, managing director of the Dubai Dolphinarium, said: "This is the first facility of its kind to have an indoor seating arrangement."
He added that its high level of comfort was one of the reasons DSS officials chose the location for the opening ceremony.
Speaking to Gulf News, Richardson said, "We have been open for two weeks. So far, we have had 18,000 visitors at the dolphinarium."
He hopes to increase that number by 10 per cent each week.
The maximum number of people that can be accommodated in the indoor facility is a little under 1,250 at any given time, officials said.
"After the opening show, people will understand that we have more family type of edutainment," said Richardson. "When people come to Dubai, they will know that they have other options besides visiting shopping malls."
The 11th edition of the DSS will last for 65 days from June 19 to August 22. The highlight of the event is the Tens of Surprises initiative where a new event will be organised every other day, according to official reports.
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