A 12-hour sale, fireworks and classes: a guide to Dubai Summer Surprises 2020

Everything you need to know about the 23rd DSS ...

Dubai Summer Surprises 2020 is launching on Thursday, July 9, with seven weeks of sales, deals and activities at malls and leisure destinations across the emirate. Dubai Summer Surprises

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.