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.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Top 5 concerns globally:
1. Unemployment
2. Spread of infectious diseases
3. Fiscal crises
4. Cyber attacks
5. Profound social instability
Top 5 concerns in the Mena region
1. Energy price shock
2. Fiscal crises
3. Spread of infectious diseases
4. Unmanageable inflation
5. Cyber attacks
Source: World Economic Foundation
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Company profile
Name: GiftBag.ae
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2011
Number of employees: 4
Sector: E-commerce
Funding: Self-funded to date
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
Ways to control drones
Countries have been coming up with ways to restrict and monitor the use of non-commercial drones to keep them from trespassing on controlled areas such as airports.
"Drones vary in size and some can be as big as a small city car - so imagine the impact of one hitting an airplane. It's a huge risk, especially when commercial airliners are not designed to make or take sudden evasive manoeuvres like drones can" says Saj Ahmed, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research.
New measures have now been taken to monitor drone activity, Geo-fencing technology is one.
It's a method designed to prevent drones from drifting into banned areas. The technology uses GPS location signals to stop its machines flying close to airports and other restricted zones.
The European commission has recently announced a blueprint to make drone use in low-level airspace safe, secure and environmentally friendly. This process is called “U-Space” – it covers altitudes of up to 150 metres. It is also noteworthy that that UK Civil Aviation Authority recommends drones to be flown at no higher than 400ft. “U-Space” technology will be governed by a system similar to air traffic control management, which will be automated using tools like geo-fencing.
The UAE has drawn serious measures to ensure users register their devices under strict new laws. Authorities have urged that users must obtain approval in advance before flying the drones, non registered drone use in Dubai will result in a fine of up to twenty thousand dirhams under a new resolution approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.
Mr Ahmad suggest that "Hefty fines running into hundreds of thousands of dollars need to compensate for the cost of airport disruption and flight diversions to lengthy jail spells, confiscation of travel rights and use of drones for a lengthy period" must be enforced in order to reduce airport intrusion.
The Porpoise
By Mark Haddon
(Penguin Random House)
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch
Power: 710bhp
Torque: 770Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 2.9 seconds
Top Speed: 340km/h
Price: Dh1,000,885
On sale: now
T20 World Cup Qualifier
October 18 – November 2
Opening fixtures
Friday, October 18
ICC Academy: 10am, Scotland v Singapore, 2.10pm, Netherlands v Kenya
Zayed Cricket Stadium: 2.10pm, Hong Kong v Ireland, 7.30pm, Oman v UAE
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Darius D’Silva, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Junaid Siddique, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Waheed Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Zahoor Khan
Players out: Mohammed Naveed, Shaiman Anwar, Qadeer Ahmed
Players in: Junaid Siddique, Darius D’Silva, Waheed Ahmed
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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
Brief scores:
Juventus 3
Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'
Frosinone 0
RESULTS
Manchester United 2
Anthony Martial 30'
Scott McTominay 90 6'
Manchester City 0
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
