The Dubai Shopping Festival 2013 stars today (3 January) and it's time to catch “Dubai at its Best”. Apart from all the shopping that everyone loves, we the main attractions of DSF this year will be hosted at the lifeline of the city – the Dubai Creek!
The six main destinations of DSF 2013 are the four creekside venues of the Festival Promenade at Dubai Festival City, the Al Seef Street area, the Creek Park and the Heritage and Diving Village, as well as Al Riqqa Street and Downtown Dubai.
Suhaila Ghubash, Events Director – DEPE, said, “It’s a great opportunity for visitors to DSF to take in the whole city of Dubai as they go to the locations of the events spread out all over the city. In the Dubai Creek area alone, we have four different venues for the events. Other main Dubai neighbourhoods that will host the events and activities of DSF 2103 are Al Riqqa Street, in the commercial heart of Deira and the unique Downtown Dubai. DSF 2013 is also geared towards providing more events and entertainment for our younger audience, such as the various children’s rides at Al Riqqa Street and special activities for kids at the Creek Park.”
Here's more on the super six...
Festival Promenade at Dubai Festival City
The Festival Promenade at the Dubai Festival City Mall is an open air area on the banks of the Dubai Creek, adjacent to the mall and luxury hotels near the Al Badiya golf club area. This year, Festival Promenade will host the DSF Fun Fair ground, which will feature the largest and the highest number of rides and games at any one destination. Some beach sport events will also take place near the venue at the sandy creek shores adjacent to it. The highlight of the Festival Promenade at DSF 2013 will be the Bedouin Lifestyle Camp, which will provide an authentic experience of Bedouin desert life in Yemen, Jordan, Mauritania, Algeria and Morocco, as well as the hosts UAE. Plus, markets selling traditional Bedouin goods and handicrafts, camping areas for visitors, and play areas for children. Folklore shows from the nine countries will also be hosted every day at a stage situated in the centre of the encampment to entertain guests.
Al Seef Street
Located right next to the waters of the Dubai Creek, Al Seef Street will be the stage for the DSF Carnival, the “World of Souvenirs” and the “Tea Oasis” among other new events. There will also be floating restaurants, roaming acrobats and cultural performers, children’s play areas, kiosks selling food and lots more.
Al Riqqa Street
At the heart of old Dubai’s bustling Deira district lies Al Rigga Street, which will have light entertainment on the streets every evening during DSF 2013, with roaming performers and artistes. Al Riqqa Street area will also host a Sports Zone and a Skill Games area; there are prizes to be won. Lots of food kiosks join the action.
Creek Park
The Creek Park will host the Kids Festival Park from January 3 to February 3. During these days, from 10am to 6pm, the park will host kids between the ages of 6 and 12 and games, rides and other special events for the tots.
Downtown Dubai
The most prestigious square kilometre on the planet will host fashion shows and events such as Creations, the Street Fashion Show, the Biggest Sampling/Makeover and a midnight fashion show. Finally, fashion will reach dizzying heights at the Highest Catwalk, held hundreds of metres up in the sky in At the Top, Burj Khalifa.
Heritage Village
The Heritage and Diving Village will have stalls of Emirati food and artefacts, as well as presentations and exhibits about the pearling and seafaring traditions of the UAE.
