Dubai Summer Surprises | Soaring temperatures and summer holidays notwithstanding, Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) continues to thrive. Now celebrating its 27th year, this renowned shopping and entertainment festival kicks off on Friday, offering a bustling schedule of concerts, family-friendly events, exciting raffle draws, shopping deals, restaurant promotions, and hotel offers that will run until September 1.
Highlights of Dubai Summer Surprises 2024
With a 65-day event spread across the entire emirate, keeping up with everything DSS has to offer can be challenging. Here are some of the key highlights:
12-Hour Flash Sale on Friday
Kicking off DSS with a bang is the 12-hour flash sale at City Center Al Shindagha, City Centre Deira, City Centre Me’aisem, City Centre Mirdif, and Mall of the Emirates. From 10 am to 10 pm on the festival’s first Friday, over 100 brands, spanning fashion, beauty, homeware, and electronics, are offering discounts of up to 90% on selected items. Brands participating include Carters, Aldo, Steve Madden, Okaidi, The Watch House, E City, Better Life, Cole Haan, Damas, Crate & Barrel, Al Jaber Optical, Ecco, Balmain, Lego, Vinci, and US Polo Association.
Opening Weekend Concerts and Performances
Although DSS spans more than two months, it starts with a bang this weekend with grand opening celebrations. This year will feature the return of Beat the Heat performances across various venues. Highlights include:
- City Centre Mirdif: Performances by Norwegian dance group Quick Style, Jordanian indie band Autostrad, Jordanian-Palestinian singer Dana Salah, and Iraqi-Canadian singer Ali Gatie.
- Mall of the Emirates: DJ zones with performances by DJs Keza, Tala Samman, and Sonya, alongside dance shows by Hallway Boyz, Moto Dancers, and a bharatnatyam and hip-hop fusion.
- Dubai Festival City Mall: Roaming dancers and entertainers.
Concerts at Coca-Cola Arena
- Friday: Georges Wassouf and Al Shami
- Saturday: Rap legends Xzibit, D12, and Obie Trice
- Sunday: Ethiopian pop star Teddy Afro
Attractions, Hotels, and Restaurant Offers
Families can take advantage of numerous kids-go-free deals across hotels and attractions. For the first time, DSS has partnered with discount publisher The Entertainer to offer a summer-specific package. Known for its buy-one, get-one vouchers for dining venues, attractions, fitness locations, and other experiences, a regular subscription costs Dh595 for a year. However, during DSS, tourists and residents can access the package for Dh195 for three months, including more than 7,000 offers.
Even without the Entertainer package, visitors can enjoy individual deals from various establishments. Attractions such as Madame Tussauds, The View at The Palm, Burj Khalifa At the Top, and Aya Universe are offering kids-go-free deals. Select hotels across the city, including the St Regis The Palm, the H Dubai, Kempinski Mall of the Emirates, and Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf, are also participating.
Summer Restaurant Week and Sizzling Summer Eats
- Summer Restaurant Week: From August 23 to September 1, 50 restaurants will offer pocket-friendly set menus for lunch and dinner.
- Sizzling Summer Eats: From July 15, 100 restaurants will provide up to 30% dining discounts for 30 days.
Big-Ticket Raffle Draws
Shoppers can look forward to numerous raffle campaigns across various malls. For example, a new GAC GS8 2024 will be awarded to six winners who spend Dh200 from June 28 to September 1 at 18 participating malls. Those who spend Dh300 or more at Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Deira, and City Centre Mirdif from June 28 to September 1 can enter a draw for a Maserati Grecale GT. Additionally, Mini Coopers are up for grabs for eight winners of raffle coupons distributed at Enoc stations and select malls, with every 10,000 tickets sold resulting in a draw.
Modesh World
The indoor amusement park Modesh World is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Visitors, especially children, can enjoy 170 rides and attractions at the Dubai World Trade Centre venue, featuring over 100 arcade games, virtual reality experiences, and soft-play areas for little ones. New this year are an inflatable park and an animal world play area, while Modesh Cafe will serve snacks and beverages.
For more information, visit the official Dubai Summer Surprises website and plan your summer of surprises in Dubai!