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A sight to behold: A view of the Dubai fountain at The Dubai Mall. Image Credit: Zarina Fernandes/Gulf News archives

Dubai: For the first time as part of the annual Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), a floating exhibition will be set up in Burj Lake near The Dubai Mall’s Dubai Fountain, it was announced on Tuesday.

Officials revealed that Dubai will host the Wanderland exhibition by French luxury house Hermes in January.

Officials were tight-lipped about the details but promised that Wanderland would be “exceptional”.

It will run from January 21 to February 6 next to Souk Al Bahar, at a safe distance from the fountain that shoots up water jets as high as 140m.

Afloat across 1,000 square metres, Wanderland will be composed of different rooms showcasing “the universe of Hermes”. It is understood the fashion and arts exhibition will house Hermes products, both iconic and contemporary.

Hermes is a French high-fashion clothing, accessories and perfumes retailer established in the 1830s, with two shops in Dubai.

Wanderland by Hermes was showcased in London and Paris earlier this year. Those exhibitions created an imaginative walk through Parisian streets, with rooms providing a surreal window shopping experience.

The Dubai leg of Wanderland has been made possible in partnership with DSF, the annual month-long shopping and entertainment extravaganza. It will be open to the public for free, daily from midday to midnight.

The 21st edition of DSF, organised by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), is taking place between January 1 and February 1.

DSF 2016

On Monday, officials announced the line up of over 150 events and activities for the upcoming DSF, whose theme is Unwrap the Exceptional. The events will take place at different locations and times in Dubai.

DFRE officials also shared some DSF highlights on Tuesday during an informal interaction with the press at a café near The Dubai Mall.

Traditional DSF daily fireworks are returning for the latest edition, with displays to take place at Dubai Creek and at The Beach, Jumeirah Beach Residence. DSF will also hold its Mega Raffles giving visitors the chance to win cars, gold and cash prizes.

DSF will celebrate its Opening Weekend (January 1-2) at the Global Village with stage shows, fireworks and other events.

This DSF, the four main themes are Beauty, Gold and Jewellery, Apparel and Fashion, and Perfume.

Under Beauty, a Fashion Catwalk will be held at The Dubai Mall from January 2-8, among other events.

The Gold and Jewellery segment will include various activities under the “100 Winners in 32 Days” promotion run by Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group.

Meanwhile, the Apparel and Fashion theme will feature, besides other activities, a Fashion On Ice show on January 17 at The Dubai Mall Ice Rink.

And for the Perfume theme, there will a week of perfumery-related events in the last week of DSF, including a world-record breaking attempt in perfume sampling on January 26.