Whether it’s hitting the sales, indulging in foodie experiences or treating the family to a fun day out, Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) is packed full of great deals and offers to suit every taste and budget.
There’s no shortage of enjoyment to be found at the summer-long festival, which runs until 4 September. But what can you get for AED1,000? A grand is a lot of money, but thankfully DSS offers residents and visitors great value for every dirham they spend.
Organiser Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) highlights some of the best DSS deals and activities friends and families can enjoy across the city.
FOODIE FUN
DSS and great food go hand in hand, and this year hungry diners can eat at some of the city’s most popular eateries with the super DSS Summer Restaurant Week promotion. Taking place until 21 August, the celebration of food will serve up an unrivalled range of dishes that showcase cuisines from all over the world. The complete dining experience, DSS Summer Restaurant Weekoffers breakfast for AED69 with a choice of mains, a hot beverage and a juice, or AED25 for a children’s meal. A two-course lunch costs AED95 for adults and AED35 for children and a three-course dinner is available for AED150 for adults and AED35 for children. A bottle of water is also included with the lunch and dinner deals. For AED1,000, foodies can eat their way around the city enjoying breakfast, lunch and dinner at any of the 30 participating restaurants offering 50 meal options across 20 cuisines at 24 locations. For the full list of participating restaurants, visitwww.SummerRestaurantWeek.com.
SPECTACULAR SHOWS
With AED1,000, residents and visitors can treat the family to a performance of La Perle. The award-winning and awe-inspiring live show that combines music, stunts, breath-taking acrobatics and much more is offering a host of super deals on tickets as part of a special DSS-long promotion that includes free entry for kids under 12 when accompanied by a paying adult. UAE residents headed to the show at Al Habtoor City will receive 20 per cent off the price of a ticket and groups of four guests can enjoy 25 per cent off as part of a friends and family offer. Big spenders can also opt for La Perle’s great dinner & show packages with prices starting from AED354. Available with a host of different options, the package includes tickets to La Perle plus a mouthwatering meal at one of Al Habtoor City’s wide range of restaurants serving dishes from Latin American, Europe and Asia.
FAMILY DAYS OUT
A family of three can spend the day at the UAE’s biggest indoor theme park and enjoy fun and excitement on an epic scale for less than AED1,000. IMG Worlds of Adventure will host its Summer Festival until 28 August, with tickets starting at AED325 for general admission. Visitors can see their favourite cartoon and superhero characters in person at the Character Parade, with more than 30 stars such as Modesh and Dana, Johnny Bravo, Gumball, Darwin, Finn and Jake as well as Marvel heroes Hulk and Captain America all available to meet fans as they walk around the theme park. There’s also a super selection of rides, games, great F&B and more to discover.
Another great option for families or groups with lots of young, inquisitive minds to keep entertained. The Green Planet’s ‘Tales of The Green Planet’ event is full of fun edutainment and environmentally-focused activities for kids aged three to 10 years. Held in collaboration with the Emirates Literature Foundation and DSS, children can take part in scavenger hunts, arts and crafts sessions, lively storytelling from famous authors and illustrators and even write letters to their favourite animals, who will reply back by email. Held from 19 to 21 August, day ticket entry to The Green Planet is priced at AED89 when booked online or AED120 at the gate. Guests can enjoy a great day out at The Green Planet followed by delicious food at one of the many restaurants and cafes located at City Walk.
SHOP & WIN
DSS is famous for offering shoppers the chance to win incredible prizes, with everything from luxury cars to fully furnished apartments up for grabs in a host of shop & win raffles held around the city. As part of this year’s festival, customers shopping the sales at Pan Emirates stores can win a brand-new fully furnished flat in Al Habtoor City with the Shop & Win Your Dream Home promotion. The prize draw for the flat, worth AED1.1 million, will be held on 31 August. With AED1,000, DSS shoppers have six chances to win a brand-new car with the DSS Mercedes Mega Raffle – and have AED100 left over. Raffle coupons priced at AED150 are available at ENOC and EPCO petrol stations, ZOOM stores and stands in malls and other venues. Customers who purchase a ticket will have a chance of winning a 2021 Mercedes C200 and AED25,000, with the prize draw held on 25 September. The raffle is also online at www.idealz.com.
HIT THE SALES
With a budget of AED1,000, the DSS sale is the best place to spend, spend spend! Taking place around the city until 4 September, a total of 500 brands and 3,500 outlets are serving up savings of 25-75 per cent.
All of the venues, stores and malls taking part in DSS follow the important health and safety procedures, including social distancing and the wearing of masks at all times.
Dubai Summer Surprises is supported by Key Sponsor RAKBANK MasterCard and Strategic Partners which include: Al Futtaim Group (Dubai Festival City Mall and Dubai Festival Plaza), Al Zarooni Group (Mercato Shopping Mall), AW Rostamani Group, Dubai Holding, Emirates Airline, Enoc, Etisalat, Majid Al Futtaim (Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Deira), Merex and Nakheel (Ibn Battuta Mall, Nakheel Mall and Circle Mall).
For more information, log onto the website mydss.ae or follow @DSSsocial for the latest information.