Dubai Shopping Festival - A World of Activities Together

Our travel expert Vijaya Das Panicker is back - & how! She tells us about the world famous event of the Dubai Shopping Festival, which is an annual event held for a month. This is where you get awesome bargains, discounts, global cuisines & a totally thrilling experience! So men, women wherever you are, have you booked your DSF travel plans yet?

Read on for Vijaya's inputs:

Dubai is just not a sandy mirage but one of the man-made wonders of the World. A desert city of gold; it is where unlimited opportunities await the seeker, and is the ultimate shopping Mecca of the capital of the UAE, which blossoms and shines during the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF).

DSF, launched in 1996 is one of the largest and longest running retail events, encompassing the irresistible car raffle draw, duty-free shopping extravaganza, recreation, relaxation, lucky draws and full-fledged fun for the whole family. The 32 days of indulgence starts off with a spectacular opening ceremony for visitors and residents at Dubai Creek Park, which is well-complemented with a beautiful view and a golf course. The night in modern Dubai turns into a big shopping fiesta and the place, an architectural delight is surrounded by numerous shopping malls that cater to every customer’s need. Everything from cars, haute couture clothing to jewelry can be purchased under the same roof. With a McKenna’s Gold touch in this part of the World, gold is cheap and duty free, and it’s a visual treat to see the glint of gold that adorns the shops in beautiful designs. The city of gold concept was coined during one of the Dubai Shopping Festival awareness campaigns. Dubai is undoubtedly a shopper’s paradise and houses some of the best shopping malls like The Dubai Mall hosting more than 1200 retail stores and one can choose the best in designer wears with the presence of retail giants such as Galeries Lafayette, Debenhams, Bloomingdale's, and Marks & Spencer. The Lamcy Plaza is another great place for family outings; here children can enjoy unlimited entertainment right from electronic clowns prancing around to action-packed antics by spider-man, who stealthily moves up the wall in total deftness. True to its tradition Dubai satisfies everything that one wants from life. The shopping mall near Mehta Road and the happening Wafi Shopping Mall exactly does that, it has some of the best European brands under its umbrella.

But it is not only shopping that Dubai is famous for, the desert city offers loads of family activities that guarantees to make the trip worthwhile and wholesome. To know the true culture of any state one has to be in sync with the place and what better way to know the people and its surroundings than by just observing the ancient sport of camel racing that usually takes place on a national holiday. The other action-packed activities are the Desert Safaris at Al Warqa'a Area 4 where one can explore the mysteries of the desert and know more about the Arab culture and actually live and experience a scene out of the classic movie Lawrence of Arabia by staying overnight in one of the Bedouin tents that the safari offers. Also, one can drive through deep trenches and enjoy the adrenalin sport of sand skiing down the desert dunes and feel like a speed monster. There are also some entertaining street events to be explored, namely the Al Seef Street event in Bur Dubai, which comes alive with street performances, parades, and carnivals every evening from 4pm onwards. The other events on the calendar are the Al Rigga Street Events and the Al Diyafa Street Events.

There are some exquisite hotel deals that are as exciting as the shopping deals on board. The Taj Palace Hotel offers executive room single/double for AED 650 / 700 on room only basis and Taj Club room single/double for AED 850 / 900 on bed and breakfast basis, which are all complemented with the usage of health club and swimming pool/gymnasium, 10% discount on TAJ SPA treatments and shuttle service to a shopping mall. Joining the bandwagon on room deal promotions are also the Radisson Blu Residence at Dubai Marina and the Radisson Blu Resort, which offer 20% discount on a 2 nights stay option. The Four Points Downtown is an ideal family stay option, which maintains family rooms and also has a special 20% discount offer of on the rooms. Subsequently, there is the Bonnington Jumeirah Lakes Towers, located on Sheikh Zayed Road offering 30% discount on deluxe and twin rooms.

And lastly, it is said that the best way to know people and understand their culture is by tasting their food, but Dubai takes it a step further by promoting World cuisine to its visitors with some irresistible restaurant promotions that includes dinning at Pullman Dubai Mall of the Emirates outlets, where a cash voucher of AED 50 can be automatically redeemed for a minimum spend of AED 150. There is also the pay for two brunches and get the third one for free offer at Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates. And, for a surreptitious eat and drink offer you can enjoy the unlimited food and regular selected beverages at Ramada Chelsea Hotel. Visitors can also savor on an Oriental platter with the 15 percent discount on Sumibiya’s and enjoy a Japanese BBQ buffet nights for only Dhs. 130 per person, or can enjoy the legendary Sushi & Teppanyaki buffet nights every Monday and Thursday for Dhs.160 per person at the Radisson Blu Hotel. But, if you still want to experience the true culture then experience it through its awesome local cuisine, especially the Shawarma, which can be best tasted at the World Village or at the Al Mallah, located at the Al Diyafah Street.

There is so much to do in Dubai during the festival that time just slips by like sand from one’s grip. The sun, the sand and the shopping extravaganza all add up to an action packed holiday experience in Dubai. So, welcome to the city of indulgence for the ultimate Arabian hospitality that excites all human senses and offers gaiety worth the cost.

PS: Hurry, this January book your date with Dubai for the 16th Dubai Shopping Festival, starting on January 20, 2011 till February 20, 2011.