For most us, Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) means bargains, promotions, fun-filled-activities and lots of shopping. From retailers to spas, restaurants and hotels, everyone rolls out its best offerings to make the festival a truly memorable experience for residents and visitors.
With the month long shopping and entertainment extravaganza commencing today, GN Focus selects the best of what’s on offer for you.
Update your 2014 wardrobe
Whether it is the ‘on trend’ jacket or a little black dress, DSF is a great time to update your closet for the new year without putting a dent in your credit cards. From designer labels to high street brands, Dubai has enough to keep any fashionista happy.
“DSF is a good time to pick up classic timeless pieces. Invest in pieces that will last you long and give you a good wear. Stick to modern and simple shapes, and concentrate on fits,” says Dipesh Depala, Managing Partner, The Qode, a luxury PR and events agency in Dubai.
“This DSF invest in a really good well fitted suit. Stick to a modern, classic shape and you can’t go wrong for timelessness, all at a bargain. A smart, slim line navy blazer is always useful and very versatile. Pick up a pair of good dress shoes as well,” Depala suggests.
Tour the city in style
If you have a little extra cash, what better way to explore the city than with a private aerial tour over the magnificent Dubai skyline? The 40-minute Seawings seaplane flight will be available to you at an unbeatable price of Dh 8,500 instead of Dh 11,300. Gather up to nine of your friends or family members and experience the thrilling water take off from Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa. The offer is valid from 1stDecember – 31st January.
Fun for kids
Street and mall activities are a great way to keep children entertained during DSF. Al Seef street in Bur Dubai, Rigga street in Deira, The Promenade at Dubai Festival City and the Global Village come alive every evening from 4 to 12 PM during the festival with a number of cultural performances, parades and fun activities. Shopping malls in Dubai also run exciting activities for children.
“I usually take advantage of the sales during DSF and it’s an added bonus that there are plenty of activities laid on for children. I check out which malls have good shows and entertainment and go there so my children can enjoy themselves and I can shop. I prefer malls that have interactive entertainment so they can join in,” says Catherine Rankin Harper, mother to three-year-old William and two-year-old Elin.
Shop smart
If you love bargain hunting, head straight to Dubai Outlet Mall, home to over 1,200 of the world’s premium and top brands. Though it is away from the hustle of the city, it is worth visiting the mall. Here you can snap up discounts between 30 and 90 per cent on the majority of products.
Dubai DSF, Dubai Outlet Mall will offer fabulous shopping promotions and high-value prizes. It will also run a fashion show to introduce new faces to the fashion and modelling industry in the UAE.
Souq scan
For value shopping you can also take trips to the bustling streets of Deira, Karama, Satwa and Bur Dubai and the traditional souqs that can be found all over the city. The narrow alleys of Deira and Bur Dubai are dotted with small shops selling almost everything, from spices and dry fruits to garments, textiles, upholstery, Arabic fragrances, household products, carpets and rugs. Though products are competitively priced, haggling is common to bring prices further down
Discover a new you
If the holiday party season took a toll on your health, DSF is the time to get your life back on track. Enrol yourself in a meditation class at Balance Wellness 360 to focus and quiet your mind. Meditation is truly the greatest gift that you can give yourself in the new year.
“If you’ve had a hectic 2013 or looking to start the year on a positive note, opt for Mariam Yasin’s New Year Manifesting Meditation. The session will help nourish the mind and clear negativity. It will define all your goals for the new year, and offer the motivation you need to realize these goals,” says Dr. Chandy George, Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant, Balance Wellness 360.
You can also opt for a detox programme at Dubai Herbal and Treatment Centre (DHTC) to lose weight and get you back on form. “The benefits of a detox are endless. You will feel more energetic, lighter and healthier. Your skin will also look better. In the long term, it can change your body and life and [it] is a perfect start for a permanent healthier lifestyle,” says Victoria Tipper, Nutrition Coach at DHTC. Choose its Detox Classic package for just Dh 799.
Sheer bliss
After an overdose of shopping during DSF, we suggest you to simply check into one of the city’s spas to ease your tired muscles. In a city full of luxury hotels and spas, there are plenty of choices to rejuvenate and relax.
For example, you can try a traditional hammam bath at the Talise Ottoman Spa at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray to give your haggard body a quick lift. As one of the largest and most luxurious spas in the Middle East, Talise Ottoman Spa also offers exclusive couple’s treatments for the perfect romantic retreat. Couples can enjoy therapeutic massages, a private dip in the jacuzzi, body treatments and refreshments.
“If you are feeling stressed and guilty for having indulged way too much this festive season, Spa bike at Balance Wellness 360 is the ideal solution to get back in shape and welcome the new year,” points out Dr. George.
A hydro-massage bath that combines traditional exercise and massage techniques through an integrated biking system, Spa bike provides a unique environment for an extensive aquatic workout. Each session lasts for up to 30 minutes and is perfect for time-strapped individuals who are conscious about muscle toning and low cellulites. Each session is priced at Dh180.
City break
Since you couldn’t go for a Christmas vacation last year, consider planning a fun winter staycation in and around Dubai during DSF. Choose from any of the luxe hotels that dot Dubai and book a night or two for yourself.
You can get a 10 per cent discount on Dusit Thani Dubai’s best available rates during DSF when you book through its website.
Conrad Dubai runs a special promotion, ‘Any weekend, Anywhere’, which gives guests 33 per cent off the best available rate, if booked by the end of January and the offer will be valid for the whole of 2014.
Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts will roll out a regional campaign called Shop and Stay, valid from 2nd of January- 2nd of February, where visitors can choose to stay in any of its hotels, get a shopping voucher worth of Dhs 100 , buffet breakfast and dinner. The brand has incorporated the special promotion, valid throughout the festival, to enable guests from around the globe to benefit from the various events, activities and shopping opportunities on offer.
Gastronomic adventure
DSF is the perfect time to satiate your two loves of life- shopping and dining. From Italian to Mexican, from Indian to Lebanese, the city plays host to some of the best dining experiences across all cultures. Restaurants in Dubai also offer special dining deals during the festival.
Mazina at The Address Dubai Marina, the restaurant known for its eclectic variety of Asian, Arabic and European dishes, will offer business lunch at a special rate of Dh 110 per person during the shopping festival, which is otherwise priced at Dh 125. The restaurant will also offer a 20 per cent discount on food and soft beverages during dinner from 2nd January - 2nd February.
The city’s another popular dining hotspot Dusit Thani Dubai has also rolled out special promotions during the month of January. All in-house guests will enjoy 20 per cent discount on food and non-alcoholic beverages at its restaurants such as The Californian, PAX, Benjarong and Deli.
Street food
From a budget eatery to a Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant, Dubai has it all when it comes to experiencing a world of flavours. Al Seef, Dhiyafa, Rigga Street and Global Village are the places to sample the cuisines of different countries. The Night Souq, which is specially organised during DSF, also features cuisines from various cultures.
Fireworks
Celebrations of DSF are incomplete without a few spectacular fireworks. A highlight of every DSF, dazzling fireworks will add to the festival mood every evening during the 32-days shopping and entertainment extravaganza.
Desert calling
At its best weather, Dubai simply bursts with activities during the cooler months. It is also the right time to explore the outdoors.
If all these shopping leave you feeling a little stressed, what about heading for the deserts? Book yourself for a desert safari, an experience you simply cannot afford to miss while you are in Dubai. The tour usually begins in the afternoon and lasts for about six to seven hours. There are hundreds of tour operators organizing safaris in Dubai so you can always bargain to get a good deal.
Seawings, a seaplane tour operator, can also create a memorable experience for you to discover the stunning beauty of Al Maha, a luxury resort located in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR), home to native animals and diverse fauna.
Dream big
From cars, gold and diamonds to shopping vouchers, DSF gives you plenty of opportunities to try your luck. Participate in DSF’s daily raffle draws and you many get the chance to take home a luxury car or thousands of dirhams in cash.
Souvenir shopping
Traditional hand-made carpets, sand art, a miniature camel…we all love to collect souvenirs that remind us of the unique places we travelled to and the fascinating cultures we explored.
While Global Village and the Night Souq are the places to shop for handicrafts, carpets and rugs, you can also visit traditional souqs in Dubai. You will surely find something of your interest and budget to take back home. The Carpet Oasis, organised every year during DSF, is the perhaps the best place to buy carpets and rugs in Dubai. It has been a star attraction every year featuring thousands of exquisite hand-made carpets from around the world.
