The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) is back this year with promises to enthrall visitors of all ages. Gulf News brings you 20 highlights of the DSF’s 20th edition.
1. Opening Night featuring the Welsh National Opera
When: January 1
Where: Zabeel Park
Details: The highly-acclaimed Welsh National Opera will serenade families at Zabeel Park along with guest artists Amjad Ali Khan, Xiang Zhang, Joanna Marsh and Cecile Licad. The opera has a permanent full time ensemble of 55 seasoned musicians with 75 orchestra members joining the main opening event of Dubai Shopping Festival. The opera yearly performs more than 120 concerts globally.
2. ‘A Million Reasons to Shop’
When: January 1 to February 1 | Raffle draws: January 9, 16, 23, and February 1
Where: Participating malls around Dubai
Details: Participating retailers offering discounts of up to 75 per cent are an annual draw for one of DSF’s key pillars of Shopping, Winning, and Entertainment. Shoppers who spend a minimum of Dh200 have a chance to win up to Dh1 million in prizes.
3. Fireworks display
When: January 2 to February 1
Details: From 2 Jan to 7 Jan, 15 Jan to 21 Jan and 28 Jan to 1 Feb, the grand pyrotechnics display will be set off from The Beach – Opposite JBR and from 8 Jan to 14 Jan and 22 Jan to 27 Jan the multicolour display will light up the skies over Fazza Beach.
4. Infiniti Mega Raffle
When: January 1 to February 1
Where: Purchase tickets from Enoc and Eppco petrol stations, Global Village, Gold Souq and at main streets
Details: The Infiniti Mega Raffle gives one DSF shopper the opportunity to take home a whopping prize worth Dh500,000 every day. The daily prize given away to one winner consists of two luxurious Infiniti models, QX60 and Q50, plus Dh100,000 in cash.
5. Nissan Grand Raffle
When: January 1 to February 1
Where: Enoc/Eppco and Arabian Automobiles
Details: The Nissan Grand Raffle will offer shoppers the opportunity to win a Nissan car every day and as a DSF 20th Anniversary Special, a Nissan Patrol every week.
6. Dubai Celebration Chain
When: January 1 to February 1
Where: Gold Souq and all participating outlets
Details: The Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group has made the world’s longest handmade gold chain at five kilometres in a bid to enter the record books. Known as ‘Dubai Celebration Chain’, this commemorative item gives shoppers a chance to be part of history by purchasing parts of the chain or contributing to it by linking their personal chains. Shoppers stand a chance to win 100 kg gold and 40 carats of diamonds.
7. Etisalat Festive Park
When: January 1 to February 1
Where: Zabeel Park
Details: Zabeel Park will be transformed into a venue for numerous fun-filled family-friendly events in the form of “The Circus Comes to Town” and also watch ‘The Masters of the House’ musical show.
8. DSF Celebration Nights
When: January 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 29 and 30
Where: Dubai Media City Amphitheatre
Details: Dance the night away with mega concerts from 20 superstars of the Arab World. The long line-up of Arab singers includes Mohammad Abdo, Hussan Al Jassmi, Amr Diab, Ahlam, Nancy Ajram, Elissa, Majed Mohandes, and many more.
9. The Smurfs Live on Stage – World Premiere
When: January 16 to 19
Where: Hall 8, Dubai World Trade Centre
Details: One of the main attractions of DSF 2015, the world premiere of Smurfs Live on Stage will weave a magical music story that is bound to enthrall fans and families. Smurfs Live on Stage will have four shows during DSF, each show being of 90 minutes duration.
10. Dubai International Kite Fest
When: January 29 to 31
Where: To Be Announced
Details: Dubai International Kite Fest (DIKF) would be the first large-scale events of its kind to be held in Dubai featuring a mix of adventure, fun and colours. Planned as a family fun day out on the beach, DIKF would also see an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most kites flown simultaneously. The world record bid will be made on the last day of the festival.
11. Market Outside The Box
When: January 15 to 24
Where: South Ridge Park, Downtown Dubai
Details: Market Outside the Box (OTB) – the region’s first sustainable fashion and lifestyle marketplace featuring retailers operating out of stylishly refurbished shipping containers – is returning this year, much to the delight of shoppers looking to pick up a wide selection of sustainably produced fashion items, beauty products, in addition to organic food concepts.
12. The Diamond Fashion Show
When: January 14
Where: Armani Pavilion – Burj Khalifa
Details: This features the world’s most expensive Diamond Fashion Show. Diamond jewelry designers can look forward to showcasing their most exclusive collections to a private audience during the event.
13. DXB Fashion Photography
When: January 7 to 14
Where: Mall of the Emirates
Details: The International Festival of Fashion Photography from Cannes is being brought to Dubai to feature 50 images of fashion and beauty by international photographers and 10 by local photographers .
14. Global Village
When: Until April 11
Where: Global Village, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road
Details: Visitors to Global Village are welcomed into a diversified but united world of joy, colours and rhythms to explore the world, one pavilion at a time.
15. Carpets and Arts Oasis 2015
When: January 1 to February1
Where: Dubai Festival City
Details: The Carpet & Art Oasis is a not-to-be-missed exhibition of some of the rarest, largest, and most unique carpets and rugs from various well-known carpet producing countries of the world.
16. Zakir Hussain’s Nirvana 2015
When: January 31
Where: Hall 6 Dubai World Trade Centre
Details: The “Legend” Ustad Zakir Hussain is back in Dubai to perform during DSF. The award-winning tabla maestro will take the audience on a musical extravaganza of percussion and melody featuring some of the greatest artists of our time.
17. Abbati
When: January 19 to 20 at Armani Hotel; Preview Exhibition from 14 - 16 January, The Dubai Mall
Details: Back by popular demand is the abaya and traditional wear event ‘Abbati’ following its phenomenal launch during DSF’s 19th edition in 2014. Abbati puts the spotlight on both regional and local abaya trends, as showcased by prominent homegrown talents from the Middle East.
18. MAMMA MIA!
When: January 2 to 10
Where: Shaikh Rashid Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre
Details: The award-winning show, which is celebrating 15 years in London’s West End and is the 9th longest-running musical on Broadway, is now making an appearance in Dubai as part of the DSF 20th anniversary celebrations.
19. Gulzaar Theatre Fiesta
When: January 15 to 17
Where: Centrepoint Theatre DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates
Details: A three-day Theatre Fiesta, written by celebrated and internationally acclaimed, Bollywood writer, Gulzaar, showcasing the versatility of his writing and the dramatization by well-known Indian film and theatre director Salim Arif.
20. Family Entertainment
Details: A wide range of international shows at leading malls in Dubai will feature entertainers from different countries, who will be performing live on stage during DSF. Events include Pinoy Fiesta, a family entertainment show featuring top artists from the Philippines; Latin Art Fest with the best of Latin art, music and food; the Little Superstars, a musical show by the “Pre Skool” group famed for their performances in Britain’s Got Talent; and many more.
