Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) is the perfect time of year to visit the city’s mega malls and community shopping destinations, with superb offers and great family entertainment available every day.
Residents and visitors headed to their favourite mall during this year’s DSS will discover a huge range of events and activities designed to capture the imaginations of residents and visitors of all ages.
Organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), DSS is held until 4 September. All of the stores, malls and venues taking part follow all of the important health and safety rules including social distancing and the wearing of masks at all times.
Throughout the summer-long celebration Dubai Festival City Mall will welcome shoppers and families with young children to a unique beach-themed activation featuring fun activities, games, a playground and sandpit for the little ones. Shoppers who spend AED300 in the mall will be entered into a raffle to win a gift card loaded with AED20,000, with prize draws held each week of the festival. Customers who spend AED300 can also win instant prizes by taking part in a range of fun games held at the in-mall beach attraction.
A must-visit for fans of classic cartoon capers and crazy characters, Ibn Battuta Mall will host the super Tom & Jerry Cheese Town Experience until 30 July. Making its debut in Dubai, the exciting and interactive pop-up is packed with great games and activities, plus two world-famous duo will make special appearances to meet fans. Visitors can also explore displays of original Tom & Jerry artwork, sculptures and animations collected over the years.
The cartoon fun continues this DSS with the Space Jam Experience at City Centre Mirdif. Taking place in the region for the first time, visitors will get the chance to participate in fun games and activities, meet and greets with Space Jam and Looney Tunes characters, enjoy music by a live DJ, and watch a spectacular acrobatic basketball dunk show. The Space Jam Experience will be held from 15 to 24 July.
The annual Summer Sports Camp at Mirdif Camp invites residents and visitors with kids to take part in a wide range of great games and activities. Held at City Centre Mirdif until 26 August, the camp features a variety of sports from football, basketball, tennis and dodgeball among others to help the little ones beat boredom during the school holidays.
Hugely popular with youngsters and parents around the globe, the CocoMelon show will entertain families at Mall of the Emirates from 29 July until 7 August. A first of its kind for the region, the CocoMelon activation is designed as the ultimate ‘shop & drop’ zone for parents eager to explore the DSS sales while the children are kept entertained. With more than 100 billion views CocoMelon, with its mix of cartoons, nursery rhymes and children’s songs, is one of the world’s most popular kids’ entertainment channels and one of the most watched channels on YouTube.
A must-visit for car fans and technology lovers alike, Mall of the Emirates is hosting an Electric Car Show during DSS in collaboration with Evlab. Until 17 July, a range of electric cars will be on display at the mall’s Central Galleria. Visitors can even take the cars on a test drive from the mall parking lot, around Al Barsha and back.
The Modesh and Dana Maze Wonderland at Al Khawaneej Walk will be the perfect family destination for inquisitive youngsters of all ages. Full of fun puzzles and exciting obstacles, everyone who enters the maze will be challenged to find the best route to a Modeshand Dana statue where they can pose for a photo alongside the cheerful DSS characters. Families can visit the Modesh and Dana Maze Wonderland daily from 18 July to 18 August.
City Walk will host The Smurfs. Until 17 July, the venue’s courtyard will be transformed into a Smurf-themed wonderland with lots of activities and games for the whole family to enjoy. From 29 July to 28 August, fans of Hotel Transylvania can meet characters including Count Dracular, Frankenstein, Mavis and Mummy Murray on Fridays and Saturdays. The Hotel Transylvania event will also feature a host of fun activities for the little ones to enjoy at City Walk each day.
Live performers will entertain visitors to the city’s malls throughout DSS. They include a Saxophone Player at City Walk from 26 to 28 July and again from 2 to 4, 16 to 18 and 23 to 25 August plus 30 August to 4 September. The Saxophone Player will also perform at La Mer from 19 to 21 July. A Hand Pan Drummer will visit CIrcle Mall from 30 August to 1 September, the Comedian CIrcuswill be at Dubai Festival City Mall 16 to 18 July, and City Centre Deira will welcome Mirror Musicians from 30 August to 1 September. Crystalize will perform at Ibn Battuta Mall from 2 to 4 August, Noemi Percussion at La Mer from 2 to 4 August, ZAZA Cello at Mall of the Emirates from 22 to 24 July and Lap Tap Acoustic Show at La Mer from 30 August to 1 September. Candyfloss Belles will visit Nakheel Mall from 26 to 28 July and Ibn Battuta Mall will welcome Tima Saxophone from 9 to 11 August and Rose & Sky from 26 August to 4 September.
Mercato Mall will host great live family entertainment during DSS, with Italian, African and Hungarian circus shows that will amaze audiences with different performances featuring a mix of acrobats, juggling and illusion acts. The mall will also welcome a variety of roaming performers throughout the festival.
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, The Pointe, Nakheel Mall, Dragon Mart 2).
For more information, log onto the website mydss.ae or follow @DSSsocial for the latest information.
