Residents enjoy Dubai’s transformation for the DSF

Dubai: Every time the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) rolls around, the emirate becomes a livelier and much more vibrant hub for tourist and residents to enjoy.

The city buzzes with exciting activities, street performances and fireworks and much more. The streets are decorated to the tee with lights shaped into different motifs and street performers and acrobats can be found in any of Dubai’s shopping malls, with their colourful and creative costumes bringing smiles to the faces of their audience.

The malls, too, are decorated and full of customers eager to find a good bargain.

DSF 2014 offers many promotions and prizes with the aim of providing people with an extraordinary shopping experience.

Shoppers can enjoy discounts of up to 75 per cent at 70 malls and over 6,000 shops combined, with a line-up of over 150 events and activities spread throughout the city.

Dubai residents told Gulf News about what they think of Dubai during DSF.

Enjoying the shopping mood at Dubai’s malls this month, resident Min Hoang from South Korea said she looks forward to bargain hunting during the Dubai Shopping Festival every year. “I look forward to taking advantage of the sales and the deals that are not there all year.” While tempted to shop all month long, Min said she is trying to stick to her budget this DSF. Along with her annual shopping spree, Min enjoyed the festival’s entertainment programme and a variety of performances. “The shows and the dancing in Festival City Mall are great — it’s good fun for families and shoppers at the mall to stop and enjoy some music and performances.”

Dany Jabi from Lebanon and her sister-in-law were among the residents experiencing the Dubai Shopping Festival. “There’s definitely a festive vibe in Dubai during this month — the streets are crowded, shops are full of people and there’s a lot of sales.” Making some good purchases this month, Dany said she hopes to see more items from the new collections on sale during the festival. Visiting Mercato Mall earlier this week, Dany said it’s always funny to see a variety of performances and shows while shopping. “The shows are quite hilarious — but I’d like to see more international performers like Circque de Soleil be a part of the festival next year.”

Emirati Faisal Ebrahim Abdul Malek said “during DSF there are many activities, festivals, sales, and a lot of other aspects that had made DSF an internationally renowned festival that attract tourists from around the world.” He said that he likes seeing the street decoration and mall performances, that bring a different taste to Dubai every DSF. He added that the performances and decorations get more creative and interesting every year. “Each year there are new events and malls, there is really no shortage of activities and surprises.”

Julia Ulaich, from Germany, said that the extended shopping hours during the DSF helps spread out the large numbers of people heading to the malls to experience the festival. Ulaich said she really feels the spirit of the festival outside of the malls. “On the creek where they set up the stalls and have performances, that is where you really feel the festival...when I last went, they had Arabic traditional dancing and an Indian show that I really enjoyed.”

Brendan Choy from South Korea, who has been living in the UAE for eight years, said that during DSF “The decorations that cover all of Dubai’s streets days before the festival make me say “Wow, it’s (DSF) coming!” Choy added that, over the years, DSF has been attracting more and more tourists from around the world. People wait impatiently for sales and discounts to start, he said, adding “it reminds me of Black Friday.” Black Friday is the Friday following Thanksgiving Day in the United States and is often regarded as the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Choy said that DSF is a nice time to bring the family to Dubai to both enjoy the city at its best and the beautiful weather.