The 23rd annual Dubai Summer Surprises begins on Thursday, bringing seven weeks of discounts and promotions to malls across the emirate.
There are various activities planned for between July 9 and Saturday, August 29. Here’s a look at what’s in store ...
Shop at a 12-hour sale
On Thursday, July 9, a 12-hour sale will run from 10am to 10pm at all Majid Al Futtaim malls across Dubai. These include Mall of the Emirates and those under the City Centre brand. Guests can expect reductions of up to 90 per cent.
Plus, those who spend Dh300 can enter a raffle for a chance to win one million Share Points to spend in Majid Al Futtaim malls. One point equals Dh10.
This year’s festival will also revive one-day-only deals at stores across the city’s malls. These super-saver deals will be announced 24 hours in advance and are available for one day at a time (while stocks last), with new offers announced every 24 hours.
Retailers will run the offer at two locations on the same day, for safety reasons. Keep up with these deals by following Dubai Summer Surprises on social media.
Deals at Dubai Festival City, Nakheel Mall and more
Shoppers at Dubai Festival City Mall and Festival Plaza can discover deals on everything from designer clothes to cars at Dubai Summer Surprises’ Festival Souq from Thursday, July 9 to Saturday, August 29. The market will feature discounts of 50 per cent to 90 per cent on a wide variety of items.
Ibn Battuta Mall will be handing out vouchers as well as prizes to shoppers each day of DSS when they spend Dh200. On the final day of the mall’s DSS Spend and Win promotion on Saturday, August 29, Gargash Motors and General Trading will give away a GAC GS8 sports utility vehicle.
At Nakheel Mall, a giant gumball machine will dish out prizes to shoppers. Those who spend Dh250 in any store will have the chance to win instant prizes, including shopping vouchers hidden in the machine's balls. There will also be a weekly DSS Golden Gumball grand prize of Dh25,000 in mall vouchers to be won each Tuesday. Meanwhile, those spending Dh250 in Nakheel Mall can can enter a raffle to win cash and daily instant prizes of up to Dh350,000.
Finally, visitors to Al Bustan Centre, Al Barsha Mall, Al Ghurair Centre, Arabian Centre, Bin Sougat Centre, BurJuman, City Centre Al Shindagha, City Centre Me’aisem, Dubai Outlet Mall, Etihad Mall and Reef Mall who spend Dh200, stand to win weekly cash prizes of Dh4,000 and Dh50,000 and even luxury cars.
See fireworks at The Pointe
The outdoor dining and shopping spot on the Palm will host three nights of fireworks as part of Dubai Summer Surprises.
From Thursday, July 16 to Saturday, July 18, the skies will light up at 8.30pm. Visitors can also enjoy a special DSS menu from Sunday, July 12 to Saturday, July 18 with 30 to 50 per cent discounts and buy one, get one free offers on selected dishes at participating restaurants.
Support home-grown brands with Ripe Market
Each Friday and Saturday throughout DSS, the family-friendly Ripe Retail Pop Up will take over Nakheel Mall with a selection of locally made products. The Ripe Retail Pop Up will be open from 10am to 7pm every weekend, with items from 15 to 20 home-grown businesses selling fashion, art, jewellery, homeware, food and more.
Enjoy a free art show
Visitors to Nakheel Mall on The Palm, Jumeirah can browse artworks from Friday, July 9 to Saturday, August 29. The mall will host work by international artists displayed as part of the Dreams exhibition, held in conjunction with Alserkal Cultural Foundation.
Book your own cinema hall
Vox Cinemas at Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Deira and City Centre Mirdif is inviting film fans to book their own movie theatres for friends-and-family-only viewings of the latest blockbusters.
The Private Cinema screening offer is available throughout DSS, with each auditorium allowing up to 10 guests. Standard experiences cost Dh450 per person, while the gold experience is Dh800.
Shop and give
From Thursday, July 9, to Wednesday, July 29, Dh1 from every Dh100 spent at Mercato Mall will be donated to the UAE Homeland of Humanity campaign to combat the coronavirus, supported by Emirates Red Crescent and the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities.
Visitors to the mall spending Dh200 will also have the chance to win Dh1,000 daily.
Make it a staycation
Some of Dubai’s most popular luxury hotels have launched staycation deals to celebrate DSS.
Guests checking into Fairmont The Palm, Movenpick JBR, Amwaj Rotana and The Address Downtown Dubai will receive up to 50 per cent off their room rates.
Jumeirah Zabeel Saray is offering up to 40 per cent off to all UAE citizens and residents, while the Sheraton Jumeirah Beach is giving guests 100 per cent of the cost of a room back in food and drink during their stay. The Two Seasons Hotel has reduced the price of rooms by 30 per cent, while guests at the Dusit Thani Dubai will receive Dh300 in food and beverage vouchers for each Dh450 room booked at the property.
Other promotions running alongside this year’s DSS include an offer at the Marina Hotel Apartments to get four nights for the price of three; family-friendly suites, with breakfast and children’s toys, from Dh399 at InterContinental Dubai Festival City and exclusive rates for GCC residents at the Four Points by Sheraton, Sheikh Zayed Road.
Join food masterclasses, competitions and buy one, get one free offers
Want to learn how to make some of Dubai’s most popular dishes? This year, UAE residents can take tips from the city’s chefs with the DSS Chef Masterclass Series. There will be a total of 10 classes.
Meanwhile, Emporio Armani Caffe in Mall of the Emirates will be running a buy one, get one free offer on its Italian pizzas throughout DSS, and More Cafe will challenge customers to cook a meal at home using a specially created recipe. The person who creates the best-looking meal will win dinner for two at the cafe.
Ocean Basket restaurant in City Centre Mirdif is inviting customers to try their hand at making its famous fish and chips, with a meal for two up for grabs for the best dish.
Fans of Magnolia Bakery can create their own versions of the cafe’s cookies with a special DSS box filled with everything home chefs need. Budding bakers can post a photo of their creations and tag Magnolia Bakery’s social media channels to win prizes. The cafe will also host in-house bakery classes for customers.
Finally, Cafe Nero will show coffee lovers how to turn a home-made latte into a work of art with four one-hour live-streamed masterclasses on Instagram.
Keep cool with new offers from Ski Dubai
The indoor ski resort in Mall of the Emirates is offering promotions throughout DSS.
Budding skiers or snowboarders can learn new skills in 48 hours with Ski Dubai’s intense two-day training programme (complete with a hot chocolate at the end of the course) for Dh600.
The family-friendly destination has also brought back its annual Ski Dubai summer pass for Dh250 per person, with unlimited access to the Snow Park, up to two hours on the slopes, 40 minutes in the Penguin Encounter attraction, or a one-hour Discovery Lesson. Finally, Ski Dubai is offering four tickets for the price of three, meaning a family of four can enjoy the facilities for Dh750.
Enjoy yoga with a view
Yoga At The Top is inviting guests to enjoy a workout experience on Burj Khalifa’s viewing deck. Taking place three times a week during DSS, up to 24 yoga enthusiasts can soak up the early morning views with classes taking place from 7am.
Take part in the Yalla DSS game
The Yalla DSS game will return, inviting players to complete three Dubai-themed challenges, either online or by visiting purpose-built venues at Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, Dubai Outlet Mall, Nakheel Mall, Ibn Battuta Mall, Mercato Mall and Dubai Festival City.
Taking place from Thursday, July 16 to Saturday, August 29, players can win shopping vouchers each time they complete a level and progress through the game. This year, Modhesh, the cartoon character and Dubai Summer Surprises mascot, will make an appearance to help players as they take on the challenges and unlock prizes.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
NYBL PROFILE
Company name: Nybl
Date started: November 2018
Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence
Initial investment: $500,000
Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)
Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Spain drain
CONVICTED
Lionel Messi Found guilty in 2016 of of using companies in Belize, Britain, Switzerland and Uruguay to avoid paying €4.1m in taxes on income earned from image rights. Sentenced to 21 months in jail and fined more than €2m. But prison sentence has since been replaced by another fine of €252,000.
Javier Mascherano Accepted one-year suspended sentence in January 2016 for tax fraud after found guilty of failing to pay €1.5m in taxes for 2011 and 2012. Unlike Messi he avoided trial by admitting to tax evasion.
Angel di Maria Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain star Angel di Maria was fined and given a 16-month prison sentence for tax fraud during his time at Real Madrid. But he is unlikely to go to prison as is normal in Spain for first offences for non-violent crimes carrying sentence of less than two years.
SUSPECTED
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid's star striker, accused of evading €14.7m in taxes, appears in court on Monday. Portuguese star faces four charges of fraud through offshore companies.
Jose Mourinho Manchester United manager accused of evading €3.3m in tax in 2011 and 2012, during time in charge at Real Madrid. But Gestifute, which represents him, says he has already settled matter with Spanish tax authorities.
Samuel Eto'o In November 2016, Spanish prosecutors sought jail sentence of 10 years and fines totalling €18m for Cameroonian, accused of failing to pay €3.9m in taxes during time at Barcelona from 2004 to 2009.
Radamel Falcao Colombian striker Falcao suspected of failing to correctly declare €7.4m of income earned from image rights between 2012 and 2013 while at Atletico Madrid. He has since paid €8.2m to Spanish tax authorities, a sum that includes interest on the original amount.
Jorge Mendes Portuguese super-agent put under official investigation last month by Spanish court investigating alleged tax evasion by Falcao, a client of his. He defended himself, telling closed-door hearing he "never" advised players in tax matters.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Series information
Pakistan v Dubai
First Test, Dubai International Stadium
Sun Oct 6 to Thu Oct 11
Second Test, Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tue Oct 16 to Sat Oct 20
Play starts at 10am each day
Teams
Pakistan
1 Mohammed Hafeez, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Asad Shafiq, 5 Haris Sohail, 6 Babar Azam, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed, 8 Bilal Asif, 9 Yasir Shah, 10, Mohammed Abbas, 11 Wahab Riaz or Mir Hamza
Australia
1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Shaun Marsh, 4 Mitchell Marsh, 5 Travis Head, 6 Marnus Labuschagne, 7 Tim Paine, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Peter Siddle, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Jon Holland
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Match info
Costa Rica 0
Serbia 1
Kolarov (56')
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
US PGA Championship in numbers
1 Joost Luiten produced a memorable hole in one at the par-three fourth in the first round.
2 To date, the only two players to win the PGA Championship after winning the week before are Rory McIlroy (2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) and Tiger Woods (2007, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational). Hideki Matsuyama or Chris Stroud could have made it three.
3 Number of seasons without a major for McIlroy, who finished in a tie for 22nd.
4 Louis Oosthuizen has now finished second in all four of the game's major championships.
5 In the fifth hole of the final round, McIlroy holed his longest putt of the week - from 16ft 8in - for birdie.
6 For the sixth successive year, play was disrupted by bad weather with a delay of one hour and 43 minutes on Friday.
7 Seven under par (64) was the best round of the week, shot by Matsuyama and Francesco Molinari on Day 2.
8 Number of shots taken by Jason Day on the 18th hole in round three after a risky recovery shot backfired.
9 Jon Rahm's age in months the last time Phil Mickelson missed the cut in the US PGA, in 1995.
10 Jimmy Walker's opening round as defending champion was a 10-over-par 81.
11 The par-four 11th coincidentally ranked as the 11th hardest hole overall with a scoring average of 4.192.
12 Paul Casey was a combined 12 under par for his first round in this year's majors.
13 The average world ranking of the last 13 PGA winners before this week was 25. Kevin Kisner began the week ranked 25th.
14 The world ranking of Justin Thomas before his victory.
15 Of the top 15 players after 54 holes, only Oosthuizen had previously won a major.
16 The par-four 16th marks the start of Quail Hollow's so-called "Green Mile" of finishing holes, some of the toughest in golf.
17 The first round scoring average of the last 17 major champions was 67.2. Kisner and Thorbjorn Olesen shot 67 on day one at Quail Hollow.
18 For the first time in 18 majors, the eventual winner was over par after round one (Thomas shot 73).
Roger Federer's 2018 record
Australian Open Champion
Rotterdam Champion
Indian Wells Runner-up
Miami Second round
Stuttgart Champion
Halle Runner-up
Wimbledon Quarter-finals
Cincinnati Runner-up
US Open Fourth round
Shanghai Semi-finals
Basel Champion
Paris Masters Semi-finals
Adele: The Stories Behind The Songs
Caroline Sullivan
Carlton Books
